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J.    H. 

OF 
Osmer 

BANCROFT 
LIBRARY 

O 

THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


THE   MORMONS, 


OB, 


LATTER-DAY    SAINTS, 


IN    THE     VALLEY     OF 


<6wt  gait  Hake: 


A   HISTORY   OF 

THEIR  RISE  AND  PROGRESS,   PECULIAR  DOCTRINES, 
PRESENT  CONDITION,  AND  PROSPECTS, 

DERIVED     FROM 

PERSONAL    OBSERVATION, 

DURING     A     RESIDENCE     AMONG     THEM. 


BY  LIEUT.  J.  W.  GUKNTSON, 

OF  THE   TOPOGRAPHICAL  ENGINEERS. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

LIPPINCOTT,   GRAM  BO   &   CO. 

1852. 


Entered,  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1 852,  by 

LIPPINCOTT,    GEAMBO    &    CO., 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  for 
the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 

STEREOTYPED   BY  J.  FAGAN.  T.  K.  AND   P.  G.  COLLINS,   PRINTEES. 


606**? 

BANCROFT 


TO  THE 

COMMANDING  OFFICER 

OP    THE 
EXPLORING  EXPEDITION  TO   THE   GREAT   SALT   LAKE   OP   UTAH, 

CAPT.  HOWARD   STANSBURY,  T.  E., 

WHO   HAS    SO   ABLY   GIVEN   THE    OFFICIAL   AND   SCIENTIFIC   RESULTS   OP   THE 
SURVEYS   IN   THE   COUNTRY  OP 

"THE   LATTER-DAY   SAINTS," 

TO   WHICH   THIS   BOOK   APPENDS   THEIR 

HISTORY  AND  THEOLOGY, 

AND  IN  PLEASANT  RECOLLECTION  OP  OUR  TOUR  IN  THE  ROCKY  MOUNTAINS, 
IS  THIS  RESPECTFULLY 

DEDICATED. 


PREFACE. 


THIS  treatise  on  the  faith  and  condition  of  the  Mormons, 
results  from  a  careful  observation  of  that  strange  and 
interesting  people,  during  more  than  a  year's  residence 
among  them,  in  an  official  capacity.  It  was  conceived, 
that  what  is  influencing  the  conscientious  character  of  a 
half  million  souls,  is  worthy  a  serious  investigation, 
though  not  pertinent  to  official  report  under  government 
auspices. 

No  apology  for  error  is  here  set  forth,  though  the  per- 
secution of  its  advocates  is  deprecated. 

The  writer  has  undertaken  neither  the  task  of  criticism 
nor  controversy.  His  aim  is  not  "to  shoot  folly  as  it 
flies/'  but  to  let  folly  tire  on  its  own  pinions,  and  reason 
regain  its  sway  over  erratic  feeling,  when  the  mists  of 
prejudice  on  one  side,  and  of  fanaticism  on  the  other,  are 
dispelled  by  the  light  of  knowledge. 

For  those  who  desire  facts  in  the  history  of  humanity, 
on  which  to  indulge  in  reflection,  is  this  offered.  It  were 
far  easier  to  give  a  romantic  sketch  in  lofty  metaphors, 
of  the  genesis  and  exodus  of  the  empire-founding  Saints 
—  the  subject  is  its  own  epic  of  heroism,  whose  embellish- 


VI  PREFACE. 

merit  is  left  to  imaginative  genius,  and  its  philosophy  to 
be  deduced  by  the  candid  philanthropist. 

Truth  and  justice,  in  few  words,  and  as  near  as  possible 
to  fallible  human  observation,  is  what  this  exposition 
aims  at.  Facts  of  motive  and  history  are  collected, 
which  concern  a  portion  of  our  own  fellow-citizens.  These 
are v  the  scholars  of  the  workshop  and  the  field  —  the 
leaders  are  students  of  men  and  things.  They  have  been 
schooled  in  patience,  perseverance,  and  self-denial  —  men 
of  action,  tried  in  varied  circumstances. 

My  thanks  are  due  to  my  friend  F~.  R.  Grist,  Esq.,  for 
the  view  of  the  "  theo-democratic "  capital  of  Deseret. 
That  gentleman  accompanied  the  expedition  thither,  and, 
as  an  amateur,  freely  gave  illustrations  of  the  romantic 
scenery,  for  the  public  report  printed  by  the  United 
States  Senate.  What  is  there  fully  portrayed,  is  here 
lightly  touched,  for  the  Mormons  constitute  the  picture 
attempted  to  be  given,  and  other  circumstances  the  frame 
in  which  it  is  set.  ' 

JULY,  1852. 


CONTENTS. 


PART  I. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Description  of  the  country  settled  by  the  Mormons  —  Soil — Amount 
of  population  —  Great  Salt  Lake  —  Utah  Valley,  Mountains  ....P.  13 

CHAPTER  II. 

Union  of  civil  and  religious  law  — "  Theo-Democracy  " —  Priests 
are  civil  officers  —  Origin  of  Mormonism  —  Persecutions  —  Colo- 
nizing the  mountains — Crickets  and  Gulls —  "  Flag  of  all  nations  "  23 

CHAPTER  III. 

Spiritual  claims  and  temporal  expectations  of  the  Mormons  —  Ro- 
man Catholic  Church  to  absorb  the  Protestant — Sunday  exercises.  35 

CHAPTER  IV. 

"Latter-Day  Saints'  faith" — Interpretation  of  theological  terms  — 
The  Bible  —  emendations  —  Deity,  more  perfected  —  Genealogy 
of  the  Gods  —  Progression  of  man  into  Gods  —  Queens  of  hea- 
ven —  Sacraments  —  Baptism  for  the  dead  —  Faith  —  Gospel  — 
Matter  eternal  and  intelligent  —  Birth  of  Spirits  and  their  pro- 
bation—Soul—Death   , 39* 

CHAPTER  V. 

Interpretation  continued  —  Original  sin  and  Satan  — Tongues — Re- 
surrection —  Prophetic  time — Priesthoods — Spies — Masonry — 
Summary  comparison  of  sources  — "  Hieroglyphics  "  of  Utah  ....  52 

(vii) 


Vl  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Kind  dealings  with  strangers  —  Gold  emigrants  —  Casuistry  — 
"  Many  wife"  system  or  "  Spiritual  wives  " —  Courtship  —  Power 
of  the  President  on  marriages  —  Desertion  of  sealed  wives  — 
Adoption  of  families  — Profanity  —  Social  life  —  Brothers'  widow 

—  Bank  of  wives 64 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Power  of  the  Seer — Submission  of  disciples — Education  and  schools 

—  Justice  and  Laws  of  the  Lord  —  Loyalty  to  the  Union  —  Re- 
cord of  the  crimes  of  nations  —  Success  of  Mormonism  —  Deve- 
lopement  —  Lost  tribes  and  four  undying  witnesses  —  Generous 
policy  of  the  United  States  Government 78 


PART  II. 

KISE  AND  EARLY  PROGRESS  OF  MORMONISM. 

CHAPTER  I. 
Rule  for  testing  the  truth  of  Mormonism  —  Character  of  the  Smiths 

—  Seer-stone  —  Revivals  —  Angelic  vision  —  Joseph's  four  years 

—  "  Money-Digger  " — "  The  Manuscript  Found  " — Its  conversion 
into  a  Golden  Bible  —  Martin  Harris  ruined  —  Plan  of  converting 
Jews  and  Indians,  and  harmonizing  sects  of  Christians  —  Found- 
ing the  church  —  Pratt  and  Rigdon  —  Extacies  at  Kirtland 88 

CHAPTER  II. 

Selection  of  Zion  in  Jackson  County,  Missouri  —  Corner  stone  — 
Tithes  declared  —  First  persecution  —  Kirtland  speculations  and 
Endowments  —  Settlement  in  Clay  County,  Missouri 104 

CHAPTER  III. 

Mormons  defy  Missouri  —  Danites  —  Missouri  war  —  Expulsion  of 
the  sect  and  horrors  of  the  exodus  —  Effect  in  strengthening  Mor- 
monism    108 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Nauvoo  City  —  Temple  —  Aqua  —  Manner  of  choosing  Missionaries 
— "Spiritual  wife  revelation" — Old  Bachelorism  in  the  moun- 
tains   * 115 

CHAPTER  V. 

Joseph's  views  of  government  —  Dissensions  in  Nauvoo  —  Martial 
law  —  Imprisonment  of  leaders  —  Murder  of  Joseph  and  Hyrum 
— Character  of  the  Prophet — His  genius  and  policy  —  Election  of 
Brigham  Young 121 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Mobs  continue  to  annoy  —  Temple  finished  and  consecrated  —  Ex- 
pulsion —  Missouri  bottom  —  Battalion  of  520  men  —  March  to 
Salt  Lake  —  Journal  —  Right  to  their  own  laws  —  Anniversary 
Pageant  —  Constitution  of  the  United  States 130 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Miracles  —  Dignity  of  Labor  and  Slavery  —  Proselyting  —  Land 
titles  —  Indian  wars  —  Utahs  —  Military  post  —  James  Bridger  — 
Pacific  Rail-Road..., 140 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Mormon  treason  —  Laws  —  Five  causes  of  breaking  up  of  Mormon- 
ism —  Right  of  self-government — Character  of  t  Mormonism  — 
Chronology 154 


HISTOEY 

OF 

THE  MORMONS. 

DOMESTIC  POLICY  OF  THE  MORMONS. 
CHAPTER  I. 

THEIR   COUNTRY. 

AMONG  the  teeming  events  of  the  present  era,  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  is  the  formation  of  a  state  by  a  peculiar  people,  in 
the  far  interior  of  America,  which  has  assumed  the  name  of 
Des-er-et, — a  mystic  word,  taken  from  the  Book  of  Mormon,* 
signifying,  the  Land  of  the  Honey-Bee. 

Its  present  capital  and  principal  settlement  is  in  the  valley  of 
the  Great  Salt  Lake.  In  this  and  contiguous  vales  are  the  gar- 
dens of  the  mountains,  in  which  the  bee  and  its  fostering  com- 
panion, man,  have  lately  been  colonized,  and  from  which  neither 
will  carry  away  the  stores  gathered  into  the  domestic  hive.  In- 
dustrious alike,  the  sweet  bounties  of  Providence  are  collected, 

*  The  "  Latter-Day  Saint?**  pretend  to  derive  the  word  Mormon  from 
the  Gaelic  and  a  branch  of  tie  Teutonic  dialects :  compounding  it  from 
Mor,  more  or  great,  and  from  Mon,  signifying  good,  and  therefore  it 
imports — more  good,  great  good.  Mormon,  mormonos,  Greek,  signifies 
a  female  spectre,  a  phantom,  a  hideous  monster. 

These  two  definitions  may  be  deemed  to  convey  the  different  opinions 
of  the  supporters  and  opposers  of  Mormonism. 

2  (13) 


14  THE    MORMON    COUNTRY. 

to  be  luxuriated  upon  at  home,  in  all  the  freedom  of  their  being 
and  constitution  of  their  nature.  This  valley  is  situated  midway 
between  the  states  of  the  great  Mississippi  and  the  golden  empire 
rising  to  life  and  influence  on  the  shores  of  the  Pacific  Ocean. 
It  is  isolated  from  habitable  grounds ;  having  inhospitable  tracts 
to  the  north  and  south,  and  the  untimbered  slope  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  nearly  a  thousand  miles  wide,  on  the  east,  and  nearly 
a  thousand  miles  of  arid  salt-deserts  on  the  west,  broken  up  by 
frequent  ridges  of  sterile  mountains.  This  fertile  tract,  there- 
fore, presents  itself  to  us  with  varied  associations,  an  object  of 
curious  contemplation. 

The  Mormon  settlements  are  in  that  remarkable  depression 
styled  The  Great  Basin — a  region  embraced  in  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tain land  out  of  which  no  waters  flow.  That  Alpine  district 
extends  along  the  western  side  of  the  American  continent,  cover- 
ing sixteen  degrees  of  longitude  in  the  Utah  latitudes,  and  is  a 
succession  of  nearly  parallel  mountain  ranges,  having  a  north 
and  south  direction.  Between  these  ridges  are  the  valleys,  whose 
average  width  may  be  twenty  miles.  In  some  places,  the  ranges 
are  abruptly  terminated  for  a  space,  leaving  a  gap,  termed  a 
kanyon,  or  pass,  according  to  the  width  of  the  break  in  the 
mountain.  These  are  names  given  by  the  trappers,  who  were 
the  pioneer  white  men  into  those  solitudes. 

The  absence  of  one  or  more  short  ranges,  opposite  each  other, 
will  occasionally  unite  several  valleys  into  one.  It  is  through 
the  kanyons  or  narrow  gorges,  with  perpendicular  sides  of  rock, 
and  the  still  wider  passes  into  the  plains  between,  that  remarkably 
level  routes  for  travel  are  found  across  the  continent.  The  "  South 
Pass"  in  the  great  eastern  chain,  is  more  than  a  hundred  miles 
long,  or  wide,  as  it  is  usual  to  designate  it,  and  then  going  west, 
you  enter  the  great  coal  basin  through  which  Green  river  flows. 
A  narrower  pass  is  near  Bear  river,  and  crossing  over  a  gentle 
swell,  one  enters  the  Weber  river  kanyon,  and  emerging  upon  the 
beautiful  Kamas  prairie,  that  extends  to  the  Timpanogas,  the  road 
lies  down  its  bank  into  Utah  valley.  Here  the  choice  of  northern 
or  southern  routes  is  offered.  The  one  by  the  Mary's  river  is  most 


THE    MORMON   COUNTRY.  15 

followed  in  summer ;  but  a  high  pass  on  the  Sierra  Nevada  has  to 
be  surmounted.  The  other  is  south-westerly  in  direction,  across 
the  Great  Basin,  and  doubles  the  mountain  into  the  head  of  the 
Tulare  valleys,  whence  the  way  to  San  Francisco,  or  some  Pacific 
port,  is  to  be  selected  on  feasible  and  fertile  ground. 

The  Great  Basin  is  that  high  level,  over  four  thousand  feet 
above  the  ocean,  between  the  Nevada  and  Wahsatch  ranges.  It 
is  a  desert  in  character,  with  some  fertile  strips  flanking  the  bases 
of  the  highest  ridges.  This  vast  region  is  mountainous;  the 
ranges  generally  from  two  to  three  thousand  feet  high,  and  parallel 
with  the  main  ones  on  the  sides,  with  some  partial  cross  ridges 
that  form  minor  basins.  In  the  interior,  therefore,  fresh  water 
becomes  scarce,  for  these  hills  do  not  collect  sufficient  snow  in 
winter,  the  only  wet  season,  to  furnish  irrigating  streams,  and 
fertilize  the  bench  of  alluvion  at  their  base,  or  water  the  plains 
between ;  and  the  consequence  follows  that  these  tracts  are  parched 
and  arid,  and  frequently  so  impregnated  with  alkali  as  to  make 
them  unfit  for  vegetable  life.  Artemisias  and  Salicornias  contend 
for  a  miserable  existence  on  portions  of  the  plains;  and  bunch 
grass  furnishes  grazing  on  the  hill-sides  for  antelope  and  deer. 
There  is  not  properly  a  "rim,"  or  continuous  mountain,  particu- 
larly on  the  north;  but  a  " divide"  between  the  parallel  ranges, 
which  is  sometimes  a  swamp,  out  of  which  the  waters  flow  in 
contrary  directions;  and  the  position  of  this  feature  may  be 
observed,  on  the  map  of  the  Great  Valley,  to  the  west  of  Bear 
river.  This  interior  basin  is  about  five  hundred  miles  in  diameter 
either  way,  and  in  the  eastern  part  have  the  Mormons  settled. 

Along  the  western  foot  of  the  Wahsatch  range,  for  three 
hundred  miles,  is  a  strip  of  alluvion,  from  one  to  two  miles  in 
width, — and,  in  the  valley  of  the  Jordan,  this  is  widened  by  what 
can  be  reclaimed  by  irrigating  from  its  waters;  and  the  spots  simi- 
larly situated,  in  other  valleys,  furnish  the  only  land  suited  to 
cultivation  in  the  Utah  Territory.  This  arises  from  the  want  of 
rain  during  the  growing  season ;  and  water  for  the  crops  is  only  to 
be  procured  from  the  numerous  streams  that  flow  down  the  moun- 
tain gorges,  fed  during  the  spring,  and  into  midsummer,  by  the 


16  THE    MORMON    COUNTRY. 

melting  snows.  The  higher  mountains  retain  the  snow,  and 
irrigate  the  bases  the  longest  time,  and  where  the  streams  cannot 
be  taken  at  the  kanyon  mouths,  and  led  off  for  the  farmer's  use, 
the  ground  is  lost  to  the  plough.  Most  of  these  creeks  are 
absorbed  in  the  porous  alluvion  before  they  have  reached  a  mile 
from  the  base,  and  frequently  re-appear  in  very  diminished 
quantity  in  springs,  at  too  low  a  level  for  use,  in  the  arid  plain 
that  borders  the  salt  pools  or  lakes.  The  land  around  gait  Lake 
is  flat,  and  rises  imperceptibly  on  the  south  and  west  for  several 
miles,  where  it  is  not  broken  up  by  the  abrupt  hills,  and  is  a 
soft  and  sandy  barren,  irreclaimable  for  agricultural  purposes. 
On  the  north  the  tract  is  narrow,  and  the  springs  bursting  out 
near  the  surface  of  the  water,  the  grounds  cannot  be  irrigated; 
but  the  eastern  side,  above  the  line  of  overflow  when  the  lake 
rises  with  the  spring  freshets,  is  fertile  and  cultivated  between  the 
mountain  and  shore. 

On  the  south  of  the  lake,  and  above  the  alkaline  barrens,  lie 
the  more  fertile  valleys  of  the  Jordan  and  Tuilla,  separated  by  the 
Oquirrh  Mountain ;  and  these  are  divided  from  the  plains  which 
lie  to  the  south,  between  the  same  ranges,  by  the  Traverse  Moun- 
tain, which  is  a  cross  ridge,  diminishing  in  height  to  the  westward. 
Here  is  fine  grazing  during  the  entire  year,  and  the  east  of  Jordan 
Valley  is  watered  by  bold  streams  that  traverse  a  strip  of  alluvion 
twenty  miles  long  by  eight  in  width,  to  the  banks  of  the  Jordan. 
This  great  stream  rushes  with  a  foaming  torrent  through  the 
kanyon  cut  in  the  cross  range,  and  descends  about  one  hundred 
feet  in  a  distance  of  two  miles,  where  the  current  becomes  more 
gentle  and  winding,  to  the  great  lake  below.  The  banks  are 
steep  and  high,  immediately  below  the  kanyon,  but  gradually 
retreat  and  slope  away  to  the  Oquirrh  hills,  and  a  canal  can  easily 
be  carried  on  the  level  of  the  kanyon,  winding  on  a  curve  to 
Spring  Point,  twenty  miles  from  the  city.  The  chalky  waters  of 
the-  Jordan  can  be  used  for  irrigating  eighty  additional  square 
miles  in  the  valley,  and  furnish  water-power  very  accessible,  and 
to  any  required  extent,  for  milling,  machinery,  or  manufactures. 
Ascending  the  Traverse  range,  a  beautiful  panorama  of  lake, 


THE    MORMON    COUNTRY.  17 

plain,  and  river,  embosomed  with  lofty  and  romantic  mountains, 
bursts  upon  the  view.  Here  is  the  lovely  Utah  Lake  and  its 
winding  outlet ;  and  the  Timpanogas,  with  four  other  rivers, 
fringed  with  cottonwoods,  a  sight  so  seldom  seen  in  these  regions, 
and,  by  contrast,  enchanting.  All  the  valley  on  the  east  side  of 
the  lake  is  fertile,  and  the  waters  throughout  fresh  and  sparkling, 
as  they  rapidly  descend  to  the  quiet  reservoir. 

The  valleys  afford  perennial  pasturage,  but  the  hill-sides  furnish 
the  bunch  grass  only  during  the  warm  months  of  the  year.  It 
seeds  in  summer,  and  is  germinated  by  the  autumnal  rains,  and 
grows  under  the  snowy  covering  of  winter.  In  the  spring,  as  the 
snow-line  retreats  up  the  slope,  under  the  melting  influence  of  the 
approaching  sun,  the  cattle  and  wild  grazing  animals  follow  it  to 
the  mountain  peaks  until  midsummer,  to  be  driven  down  again  as 
the  accumulating  snow,  beginning  on  the  summits  about  the 
equinox,  descends  in  a  few  weeks  to  the  base.  When  it  rains  on 
the  valleys,  the  snow  falls  on  the  mountains,  and,  during  winter, 
an  immense  quantity  is  drifted  into  the  kanyons  and  passes,  to  the 
depth  sometimes  of  hundreds,  of  feet,  blocking  up  the  roads,  and 
making  prisoners  at  home,  those  who  sojourn  in  those  solitudes. 

The  difficulty  in  procuring  fencing  materials,  has  caused  the 
fields  to  be  left  imperfectly  enclosed,  and  slightly  protected;  and  it 
becomes  necessary  to  set  the  youth  to  attend  the  cattle  during  the 
day,  and  drive  them  to  the  corrals,  or  fenced  yards,  at  night. 
This  position  of  these  two  descriptions  of  land,  the  cultivated  and 
the  waste,-  renders  the  people  there  residing,  equally  a  pastoral 
and  an  agricultural  community.  All  the  cultivated  lands,  that  is, 
those  brought  under  irrigation,  can  be  allotted  to  raising  cereals 
and  vegetables.  The  flocks  and  herds  driven  to  the  hills  in 
summer,  and  fed  upon  the  plains  in  winter,  will  furnish  one  half 
the  provisions  required  to  sustain  the  population  that  can  be 
accommodated  on  the  cultivated  belt  between  the  pastures.  The 
soil,  in  its  mineral  composition,  is  of  the  most  fertile  description, 
having  been  formed  out  of  disintegrated  feldspathic  rocks  of  the 
summits,  and  mixed  with  the  debris  and  decomposed  limestones 
from  the  lower  altitudes.  As  many  as  sixty  bushels  of  wheat  are 
2* 


18  THE    MORMON    COUNTRY. 

usually  grown  to  the  acre;  and  when  strict  regard  has  been  paid  to 
watering  the  crops,  a  greater  yield  has  been  given,  and,  in  one 
instance,  a  hundred  and  eighty  fold  was  reaped  from  the  drilling 
of  one  bushel  upon  three  acres;  and  the  average  of  sustenance 
from  root  crops  is  more  abundant  still.  The  potato  grows  luxu- 
riantly, and  of  a  delightful  quality,  and  the  sugar-beet  attains  to 
an  enormous  size,  from  which  good  molasses  is  manufactured ;  and 
the  attempt  will  soon  be  made  to  extract  sugar  from  the  same,  to 
supply  the  demands  of  the  market. 

In  order  to  estimate  the  probable  amount  of  population  which 
can  well  be  sustained  in  the  territory,  we  may  safely  rely  on  an 
equivalent  of  two  thousand  pounds  of  flour  to  the  acre  of  the 
plowed  lands,  and,  drawing  the  meat  part  of  the  ration,  or  one 
half,  from  the  herds  fed  elsewhere,  there  could  be  fed  four  thou- 
sand persons  on  the  square  mile.  Such  a  density  of  inhabitants 
it  can  hardly  be  supposed  will  ever  be  attained  there;  but, 
modified  by  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  case,  and  social 
character  of  the  people,  and  giving  a  far  less  amount  to  the  mile, 
we  may  calculate  that  the  territory  of  Utah  will  maintain,  with. 
ease,  a  million  of  inhabitants.  Stretching  southward  from  the 
point  we  have  been  noticing,  and  passing  over  the  rim  of  the 
Great  Basin  into  a  cotton-growing  region,  and  where  it  is  contem- 
plated to  try  the  sugar-cane ;  having  abundant  iron  mines  every 
where  in  its  whole  extent,  and  inexhaustible  beds  of  coal  in  the 
Green  River  Basin — with  hill  pastures,  the  finest  in  the  world  for 
sheep  and  wool  raising  —  with  water-power  for  manufactures  on 
every  considerable  stream  —  there  are  elements  for  a  great  and 
powerful  mountain  nation ;  and  the  part  such  a  force  could  play 
toward  those  on  either  side  is  not  an  insignificant  one  for  our 
consideration. 

There  are  three  salt  lakes  in  Central  Utah;  the  greatest  of 
them  surrounded  with  romantic  scenery,  and  invested  with  interest 
by  many  a  legend  among  the  early  discoverers  and  mountain 
trappers.  The  water  is  perfectly  saturated  with  salt,  and  so  dense 
that  persons  float,  corklike,  on  its  waves,  or  stand  suspended  with 
ease,  with  the  shoulders  exposed  above  the  surface. 


THE   MORMON    COUNTRY.  19 

The  shores  of  its  bays  in  summer  are  lined  with  the  skeletons 
and  larvse  of  insects,  and  the  few  fish  that  venture  too  far  from 
the  mouths  of  the  rivers ;  and  these  form  banks  that  fester  and 
ferment,  emitting  sulphurous  gases,  offensive  to  the  smell,  but  not 
supposed  deleterious  to  health;  and  these,  often  dispersed  by 
storms,  are  at  last  thrown  far  up  the  beach  to  dry  into  hard  cakes 
of  various  dimensions,  on  which  horses  can  travel  without  break- 
ing them  through;  the  underside  being  moist,  the  masses  are 
slippery  and  insecure.  The  salt-boilers  affirm  that  they  obtain 
two  measures  of  salt  from  three  of  the  brine,  and  they  have 
christened  this  sheet  of  water,  which  is  seventy  miles  long,  with 
the  name  of  the  "Great  Briny  Shallow/ ;  There  are  several 
-beautiful  islands  enclosed,  two  of  them  of  considerable  magnitude, 
with  a  mountain  ridge  through  the  centre  two  thousand  feet  high, 
and  fresh  springs  of  water,  which  have  caused  them  to  be  selected 
by  the  shepherds  and  herdsmen  for  their  occupation.  The  silence 
that  surrounds  one  when  standing  on  these  islands,  and  having  an 
unobstructed  view  of  every  part  of  the  vast  expanse,  is  very 
impressive ;  and  as  he  floats  on  the  surface  of  the  waves,  the  eye 
traces  several  terraces  around  the  contour  of  the  islands,  and  along 
the  adjacent  mountains,  on  the  whole  circumference  parallel  with 
the  horizon ;  and  they  seem  to  indicate  that  these  have  once  been 
the  borders  of  a  mighty  inland  sea,  whose  waters  retired  suddenly 
to  certain  distances,  by  regular  upheavings  of  the  land,  or  equal 
outbreaks,  to  a  lower  level.  Three  principal  terraces,  each  retreat- 
ing about  fifty  feet  above  the  other,  may  be  counted ;  and  their 
exact  planes  and  magnitude  show  the  comparison  of  the  works  of 
nature  with  the  feeble  imitations  of  man,  in  beauty,  sublimity, 
and  permanence. 

At  the  base  of  the  hills,  around  the  lake,  issue  numerous  warm 
springs,  that  collect  in  pools  and  smaller  lakes ;  inviting  aquatic 
fowl,  during  the  winter,  to  resort  to  their  agreeable  temperature, 
and  where  insect  larva  furnishes  food  at  all  times ;  and  the  soil  is 
so  heated  that  snow  cannot  lie  in  their  vicinity.  In  some  places 
springs  of  different  temperatures  are  in  close  proximity,  some  so 
hot  that  the  hand  cannot  be  thrust  into  them  without  pain ;  and 


20  THE    MORMON    COUNTRY. 

near  the  Bear  is  a  depression,  in  which  issue  three  fountains 
between  the  strata,  within  a  space  of  thirty  feet ;  of  which  one  is 
a  hot  sulphur,  the  next  tepid  and  salt,  and  the  uppermost,  cool, 
delicious  drinking  water — the  three  currents  unite,  and  flow  off 
through  the  plain,  a  large  and  bold  river.  There  are  also  warm 
"breathing"  or  gas-intermitting  fountains,  chalybeate  and  gypsum 
springs,  of  high  and  low  temperatures.  Those  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  city  have  been  arranged  into  delightful  bathing  reservoirs  and 
bath-houses,  out  of  the  tithing  fund,  to  which  all  are  counselled 
to  resort  for  cleanliness  and  health,  at  so  small  a  charge,  that  it 
becomes  a  public  luxury,  safe  and  beneficial.  It  is  a  refreshing 
and  delightful  sport  to  bathe  in  the  Salt  Lake,  but  on  emerging, 
the  person  is  completely  frosted  over  in  purest  white,  and  a  fresh 
spring  is  a  necessary  appendage — it  may  be  called  the  whitewash- 
ing ewer,  applicable  to  the  body  if  not  the  character. 

Wild  game  abounds  for  the  table,  in  the  antelope,  deer,  and 
feathered  tribes — the  bear,  panther,  and  smaller  animals  of  prey, 
for  the  adventurous  sportsman,  range v  through  hill,  valley,  and 
desert;  and  the  angler  can  choose  his  fish,  either  in  the  swift 
torrents  of  the  kanyons,  where  the  trout  delights  to  live,  or  in  the 
calmer  currents  on  the  plains,  where  he  will  find  abundance  of  the 
pike,  the  perch,  the  bass,  and  the  chub.  Along  the  brackish 
streams,  from  the  saline  springs,  grows  a  thick  tangled  grass,  and 
the  marshy  flats  are  covered  with  fine  reeds  or  dense  festucas.  In 
early  summer  the  shepherd  lads  fill  their  baskets  with  the  eggs 
deposited  in  that  cover  by  the  goose,  the  duck,  the  curlew,  and 
plover;  or,  taking  a  skiff,  they  can  row  to  the  Salt  Lake  islands, 
and  freight  to  the  water's  edge  with  those  layed  for  successive 
broods  by  the  gull,  the  pelican,  the  blue  heron,  the  crane,  and  the 
brandt. 

Every  day  of  the  year  has  a  different  landscape  for  the  eye,  in 
the  variety  of  light  and  shade  cast  by  the  sun,  as  he  approaches 
toward,  and  recedes  from,  those  frowning  cliffs  and  snow-clad 
peaks  —  and  the  different  coloured  garb  of  the  seasons,  nature's 
change  of  fashions,  so  much  imitated  by  the  lovers  of  dress,  on 
whom  her  lessons  are  not  bestowed  in  vain,  comes  to  aid  in 


THE   MORMON   COUNTRY.  21 

breaking  up  the  monotony.  On  the  south-east  rises  the  lofty  head 
of  the  Lone  Peak,  with  double  buttressed  pillars  on  the  summit, 
that  look  like  an  open  portal  to  giant  chambers  in  the  clouds ;  and 
not  far  off,  on  the  north,  stand  the  Twin  Peaks,  side  by  side,  like 
conjugal  partners  hesitating  awhile  on  earth,  before  they  pass 
through  this  inviting  door  to  mansions  amid  the  stars.  When 
these  barren  masses  of  grey  rock  are  viewed  near  at  hand,  the 
mind 'labors  under  its  load  of  sublimity,  grandeur,  and  awe — but 
when  standing  on  some  distant  eminence,  the  eye  seems  to  grasp 
the  infinite  before  it,  and  distance  softens  the  harsh  outlines  into 
wavy  curves,  with  closing  vistas  between,  lost  in  the  horizon's 
edge ;  the  senses  become  enraptured  for  awhile  with  vastness  and 
beauty  combined;  but  soon  there  comes  welling  up  from  tho 
depths  of  the  soul  the  feeling  that  something  still  is  wanting,  and 
coldness,  sterility,  and  vacuity  broods  over  the  landscape.  The 
full  charm  is  not  there — for  the  accessories  of  art  spring  not  forth 
to  make  an  agreeable  variety,  nor  the  forest-trees  pointing  to  the 
skies,  under  whose  shady  retreats  the  weary  of  earth  may  contem- 
plate their  destiny. 

Hidden  away  in  the  profound  chasms  and  along  the  streams 
whose  beds  are  deeply  worn  in  the  mountain  sides  are  the  cedar, 
pine  dwarf-maple,  and  occasionally  oak,  where  the  inhabitants  of 
the  vale  seek  their  fuel  and  building-timber,  making  journeys  to 
obtain  these  necessaries  from  twenty  to  forty  miles  from  their 
abodes. 

The  more  exposed  parts  of  the  country  are  annually  run  over 
by  the  fires  set  by  the  Indians  to  kill  and  roast  the  crickets  which 
they  gather  in  summer  for  winter  food.  These  fires  ascend  the 
furzy  hill-sides  and  penetrate  the  forest  kanyons  —  and  it  is  a 
beautiful  but  melancholy  sight  to  see  the  withered  vegetation  swept 
away  by  the  curling  flames  as  they  leap  up  the  cliffs,  lighting  up 
at  night  the  surrounding  country  with  fitful  splendours.  One  of  the 
strenuous  efforts  making  to  improve  the  country,  is  to  arrest  this 
destructive  process  and  convert  the  prairies  into  desirable  woodlands. 

The  atmosphere  of  the  valley  is  light,  and  breathing  is  a  real 
luxury.  The  view  being  so  unobstructed,  an  idea  is  prevalent  that 


22  THE    MORMON    COUNTRY. 

small  objects  can  be  seen  at  great  distances  distinctly,  and  some 
have  asserted  that  a  man  could  be  noticed  at  fifty  or  a  hundred 
miles.  This  is  erroneous.  In  winter,  if  snow  covers  the  ground, 
and  the  cold  air  is  free  from  moisture,  a  dark  ebject  shows  very 
far :  —  but  in  summer  the  atmosphere  is  filled  with  clouds  of  float- 
ID  g  insects  that  give  a  bluish  haze,  and  make  it  a  labor  for  the 
eye  to  use  telescopes  for  geodetic  purposes,  and  astronomical  obser- 
vations on  the  sun  are  very  imperfect.  On  the  barren  plains  and 
the  arid  valleys,  after  the  dry  season  has  a  little  advanced,  the  mi- 
rage will  take  up  objects  and  distort  them  in  the  most  fantastic 
manner ;  trees,  rocks  like  houses,  artemisia  patches,  and  the  white 
alkaline  efflorescing  flats,  will  seem  to  vibrate  and  pass  before  you 
like  a  panorama  of  garden  groves,  with  beautiful  parterres  and 
pleasure-loving  lakes  and  castellated  mansions :  —  a  small  stick 
close  at  hand  will  start  up  an  immense  giant  at  a  distance ;  and 
far  off  things  mock  you  with  their  retreatings  as  you  endeavor  to 
reach  them ;  thinking  that  a  few  min&tes  may  bring  you  to  the 
landmarks  or  a  pool  of  fresh  water;  and  when  hours  of  weary 
travel  have  elapsed,  your  disappointment  is  complete  as  they  sink 
out  of  sight  beneath  the  horizon  above  which  refraction  has  raised 
them.  Sometimes  a  man  walking  alone,  will  be  multiplied  into  a 
troop  marching  with  beautiful  military  exactness,  and  a  few  horse- 
men riding  in  a  disorderly  manner  converted  into  a  troop  performing 
various  evolutions ;  and  where  then  is  reason  to  apprehend  that 
enemies  are  near,  there  imagination  lends  a  fearful  aid  to  magnify 
the  picture,  and  you  must  be  careful  to  take  the  description  of  a 
mountain  guide  with  its  due  share  of  exaggeration. 

At  the  mouth  of  the  kanyons  the  breezes  at  night  are  ever  fresh 
and  strong :  they  issue  into  the  valley  and  are  occasioned  by  de- 
scending currents  of  air,  cooled  on  the  higher  peaks  and  summits 
behind,  and  blow  like  the  stream  from  a  funnel ;  which  makes  the 
residence  near  those  openings  in  summer  a  safe  retreat  from  the 
attacks  of  the  universal  mosquito,  and  the  "sand  flies"  or 
"  brules  "  that  in  unprotected  places  annoy  the  denizens. 


CHAPTER  II. 

CIVIL  AND   THEOCRATICAL    CHARACTER. 

SUCH  then  is  the  general  appearance  of  the  country  settled  by  the 
Mormons,  and  for  a  minute  description,  I  beg  leave  to  refer  to  the 
able  report  of  the  Surveying  Expedition  by  Capt.  H.  Stansbury 
laid  before  Congress.  But  the  peculiar  character  of  the  founders 
of  Deseret,  their  energy,  union  and  hopes,  stimulated  by  their  re- 
ligious views,  more  especially  demand  our  notice;  and  this  subject 
is  equally  interesting  to  the  politician,  the  philosopher,  and  the 
theologian.  We  found  them,  in  1849,  organized  into  a  state  with 
all  the  order  of  legislative,  judicial,  and  executive  offices  regularly 
filled,  under  a  constitution  eminently  republican  in  sentiment,  and 
tolerant  in  religion ;  and  though  the  authority  of  Congress  has  not 
yet  sanctioned  this  form  of  government,  presented  and  petitioned 
for,  they  proceed  quietly  with  all  the  routine  of  an  organized  self- 
governing  people,  under  the  title  of  a  Territory ;  —  being  satisfied 
to  abide  their  time,  in  accession  of  strength  by  numbers,  when  they 
may  be  deemed  fit  to  take  a  sovereign  position ;  being  contented 
so  long  as  allowed  to  enjoy  the  substance,  under  the  shadow  of  a 
name.  They  lay  and  collect  taxes,  raise  and  equip  troops  for  pro- 
tection, in  full  sovereignty,  on  the  soil  they  helped  to  conquer  first, 
and  subdue  to  use  afterward. 

While  professing  a  complete  divorce  of  church  and  state,  their 
political  character  and  administration  is  made  subservient  to  the 
theocratical  or  religious  element.  They  delight  to  call  their  sys- 
tem of  government,  a  "  Theo-Democracy ; "  and  that,  in  a  civil 
capacity,  they  stand  as  the  Israelites  of  old  under  Moses.  For  the 
rule  of  those  not  fully  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  obedience,  and 
sojourners  not  of  the  faith,  as  well  as  for  things  purely  temporal,  tri- 
bunals of  justice,  and  law-making  assemblies,  are  at  present  ren- 
dered necessary.  But  the  rules  and  regulations  vouchsafed  from 

(23) 


24  CIVIL   AND    THEOCRATICAL    CHARACTER. 

the  throne  of  Heaven  are  fixed  and  unchangeable,  which  have 
preceded  all  present  necessities,  and  by  them  are  they  guided  in 
the  manner  of  providing  for,  and  executing  temporal  affairs  :  —  so 
that  those  holding  the  revelations  of  God's  Will,  are  the  ones 
who  make  laws  according  to  Truth,  and  the  rulers  or  executors  are 
clothed  in  Righteousness,  and  the  end  is  Peace.  In  fact,  their 
President  of  the  church  is  the  temporal  civil  governor,  because  he 
is  the  Seer  of  the  Lord,  and  rules  in  virtue  of  that  prophetic  right 
over  the  home  and  Catholic  "Latter-Day  Saints  of  the  Church  of 
Jesus  Christ/'  usually  styled  the  Mormons.  And  should  one  be 
assigned  to  them,  not  of  their  creed,  or  other  than  their  chief,  he 
would  find  himself  without  occupation.  He  probably  would  be 
received  with  all  due  courtesy  as  a  distinguished  personage,  cor- 
dially received  in  social  intercourse  so  long  as  his  demeanor  pleased 
the  influential  members  and  people  :  —  but  as  Governor  —  to  use 
their  own  expressive  phrase,—"  he  would  be  let  severely  alone/ 
Were  he  to  convoke  an  assembly,  and  order  an  election,  no  atten- 
tion would  be  paid  to  it,  and  he  would  be  subjected  to  the  mortifi- 
cation of  seeing  a  legislature,  chosen  at  a  different  time,  enacting 
statutes,  or  else  the  old  ones  continued,  and  those  laws  enforced 
and  the  cases  arising  from  their  conflict  adjudicated,  by  the  present 
tribunals  of  justice,  under  their  own  judges.  This  certainly  has 
been  proclaimed  as  their  determined  policy,  though  there  might 
arise  circumstances  that  would  cause  them  to  dissemble  for  a  time ; 
and  the  peaceful  character  of  the  people  would  be  assigned  as  the 
reason  why  no  other  burden  was  thrown  upon  foreign  functionaries 
than  the  labor  of  drawing  their  salaries  from  the  distant  treasury. 
The  dignity  and  the  form  of  courts  might  easily  obtain,  to  which 
Gentile  sojourners  or  emigrants  could  resort,  but  the  members  of 
the  Latter-Day  Church  would  know  nothing  about  them;  their 
causes  are  to  be  settled  in  the  church  and  not  go  to  law  out  of  it. 
The  church  is  the  court  for  doctrinal  error  —  for  other  offences 
they  have  .the  statutes  of  Desere't,  and  what  they  call  "  Common 
Mountain  Law." 

For,  among  themselves,  all  disputes  are  to  be  settled  under  a 
"church"  organization,  to  which  is  attached  the  civil  jurisdiction, 


CIVIL   AND   THEOCRATICAL   CHARACTER.  25 

with  officers,  from  the  inferior  justice  of  the  peace  up  to  the 
Governor.  But  the  justice  is  a  Bishop  of  a  ward  in  the  city  or 
precinct  of  the  town  or  county;  the  Judges  on  the  bench  of  the 
superior  courts  are  constituted  from  the  High  Priests,  from  the 
quorums  of  seventies,  or  from  the  college  of  the  Apostles;  and 
the  Seer  is  the  highest  ruler  and  consulting  Judge.  A  double 
name  is  therefore  required,  by  which  the  same  persons  execute  the 
functions  in  their  different  official  capacities,  according  as  they 
relate  to  prescribed  civil  or  spiritual  matters,  except  on  opinions, 
or  purity  of  faith.  Even  the  legislature  can  make  no  law  upon, 
or  regulating  what  is  given  in  "  Revelations "  to  the  prophet,  only 
so  far  as  is  necessary  to  carry  them  into  effect  in  social  transac- 
tions. 

The  entire  management  is  under  the  Presidency,  which  consists 
of  three  persons,  the  Seer  and  two  counsellors.  It  is  this  board 
that  governs  their  universal  church ;  called  universal  because  they 
claim  to  have  preached  in  almost  every  nation,  and  in  the  United 
States  in  each  congressional  district ;  and  have  gathered  societies 
called  "Stakes  of  Zion,"  arranged  on  the  model  of  their  home 
assembly,  on  the  islands  of  the  ocean  and  either  continent — and 
all  are  to  obey  the  Presidency ;  at  home  in  all  things,  and  abroad 
in  spiritual  things,  independent  of  every  consideration  —  and  the 
converts  are  commanded  "  ta  gather,  gather,  gather  to  the  moun- 
tains," as  fast  as  convenient  and  compatible  with  their  character 
and  situation.  They  have  made  an  exception  in  favor  of  the 
Pacific  islanders,  of  whom  they  claim  to  have  many  thousands, 
whose  effeminacy  and  habits  unfit  them  for  the  labors  and  rugged 
climate  of  the  rocky  land;  to  whom  several  American  families 
have  been  sent,  to  reside  among  and  superintend  them. 

The  number  of  inhabitants  in  the  mountains  has  been  greatly 
over-estimated,  but  there  are  probably  in  Utah  and  on  the  frontiers 
of  the  states,  ready  to  move  up  the  coming  year,  about  thirty 
thousand ;  and  the  number  is  fast  increasing  by  the  influx  from 
England,  Wales,  and  from  the  continent  of  Europe ;  every  possi- 
ble effort  is  made  to  bring  up  the  emigrants,  and  swell  the 
numerical  strength  to  a  position  that  can  demand  the  independent 
3 


26  CIVIL   AND    THEOCRATIC AL   CHARACTER. 

place  of  a  state  in  the  Union  —  great  inducement  is  held  out,  by 
guaranteeing  wages  for  a  fixed  term  of  years  to  all  superior  and 
practical  workmen  in  textile  fabrics,  in  cutlery  and  machinery, 
no  matter  what  shall  be  their  religious  belief. 


ORIGIN    OF   THE    MORMON   CHURCH. 

This  people  are  there  under  assumed  prophetic  direction,  and  it 
is  not  amiss  to  glance  at  their  origin,  and  the  means  by  which  this 
late  desert  and  solitary  wilderness  is  now  blossoming  under  the 
hand  of  this  peaceful,  industrious,  and  harmonious  community. 

The  founder  of  the  Mormon  Sect  was  Joseph  Smith,  a  native 
of  Vermont,  who  emigrated  when  quite  young  in  his  father's 
family  to  Western  New-York.  According  to  his  autobiography, 
published  in  a  series  of  letters,  he  was  of  a  religious  turn  of  mind, 
and,  when  seventeen  years  of  age,  became  greatly  interested  in  the 
"revivals  of  religion/'  often  occurring  among  the  "denominations" 
in  that  section  of  country.  In  one  of  these  times  his  feelings 
were  so  powerfully  wrought  upon  that  he  gave  himself  up  to  con- 
tinued prayer  for  some  days — and  meditating  still  at  night,  he  at 
length  arose  while  all  the  family  were  hushed  in  sleep,  and  poured 
forth  his  soul,  "agonizing"  to  have  made  known  to  him  the  truth, 
among  the  conflicting  opinions  he  heard  by  the  various  sects.  His 
apartment  became  suddenly  illuminated,  and  an  angel  appeared 
and  conversed  familiarly  with  him,  and  instructed  him  in  the  way 
of  righteousness;  informing  him  also  that  there  was  no  true 
church  upon  the  earth.  The  doctrine  taught  on  this  point  is,  that 
the  church  which  was  once  established,  had  fallen  under  the  rule 
given  by  the  prophet,  and  had  "changed  the  ordinances/'  "broken 
the  everlasting  covenant,"  and  "corrupted  the  faith;"  for  which 
cause  it  was  removed  from  earth — or,  in  their  figurative  expression, 
"the  man  child  was  caught  up  into  heaven,"  which  means  that 
the  priesthood  was  taken  away  fifteen  hundred  years  ago.  And 
Joseph  was  told  that  his  prayers  were  heard  and  registered  in 
the  books  on  high,  and  that,  being  dearly  beloved  of  the  Lord, 
he  should  be  commissioned  a  priest  after  the  order  of  Melchisedek, 


CIYIL   AND   THEOCRATICAL   CHARACTER.  27 

and  restore  that  line  among  men,  organizing  a  church  of  faithful 
persons,  to  receive  the  Lord  in  the  Millennium,  which  time  should 
be  hastened  according  to  their  degree  of  mighty  faith,  for  he  was 
determined  "to  cut  the  work  short  in  righteousness."  In  after 
visits  he  xwas  further  instructed  that  "  truth  should  spring  out  of 
the  earth" — (Ps.) — and  that,  accordingly,  he  should  be  conducted 
to  the  hill  Cumorra,  in  Palmyra,  New  York,  and  receive  from  out 
the  ground  holy  and  prophetic  records  concerning  a  family  of 
Jews  that  emigrated  from  Jerusalem  in  the  time  of  Zedekiab, 
and  were  miraculously  led  to  America,  across  the  eastern,  ocean. 

On  being  guided  to  the  spot,  he  found  a  square  stone  box? 
eight  inches  high,  covered  with  a  slab,  cemented  upon  it ;  and 
made  repeated  trials  to  open  it.  He  was  struck  back  by  an 
invisible  blow,  and  informed,  in  answer  to  his  earnest  prayer,  that 
the  want  of  success  was  owing  to  his  listening  to  the  suggestions 
of  Satan,  who  had  walked  at  his  elbow  on  the  way,  and  had  made 
him  resolve  to  make  use  of  the  golden  plates  on  which  the  records 
were  engraved,  as  well  as  the  contents  when  published,  to  advance 
his  temporal  fortunes.  This  was  sin — to  think  he  should  become 
famous  was  unholy  ambition ;  that  he  should  be  rich  and  powerful 
thereby,  was  avarice. 

But,  on  sincere  repentance  and  submission,  four  years  after,  the 
contents  of  the  box  were  shown  to  him,  the  angel  opening  it; 
which  consisted  of  the  "  Sword  of  Laban,"  brought  from  Jeru- 
salem, a  breastplate  and  two  stones,  "bright  and  shining,"  and 
golden  plates  engraved  with  characters,  and  united  at  the  backs 
by  rings.  A  portion  of  the  records  was  received,  constituting  the 
Book  of  Mormon,  in  which  are  depicted,  much  in  the  style  of  the 
Bible  Chronicles,  the  various  fortunes  of  the  four  brothers  of  the 
emigrating  family,  and  of  their  descendants  —  how  some  tribes 
were  evil  in  their  practices,  despising  reproof,  and  became  cursed 
with  a  dark  skin  and  loathsome  habits,  and  were  made  scourges  to 
others  when  falling  away  from  the  truth  —  the  sayings,  teachings, 
and  warnings  of  their  prophets,  who  foretold  by  name  the  advent 
of  the  Savior  of  the  world — the  organization  among  the  purer 
people  on  this  continent,  of  a  church  by  Christ,  who  came  down 


28  CIVIL   AND   THEOCRATICAL   CHARACTER. 

to  them  after  his  ascension  at  Jerusalem,  and  gave  them  his  gospel 
nearly  in  the  words  of  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  and  how  that 
for  apostasy  these  Christians  were  finally  destroyed  by  the  Gadian- 
ton  robbers  and  the  red  men — the  last  prophet,  Moroni  by  name, 
sealing  up  the  Records,  and  depositing  them,  with  the  sword, 
Urim  and  Thummim,  and  breastplate,  at  Cumorah,  there  to  remain 
until  "the  fullness  of  time"  should  demand  their  exhumation; 
and  which  should  be  brought  forth,  "by  way  of  Gentile,"  for  the 
"convincing  of  both  Jew  and  Gentile  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ." 
(See  Preface,  B.  Mormon.) 

The  restoring  angel  was  the  spirit  of  this  same  Moroni,  the  son 
of  Mormon  the  Seer,  who  had  made  a  compendium  of  the  holy 
writings  and  delivered  them  to  him ;  and  Joseph,  now  constituted 
the  Seer,  by  means  of  the  Urim  and  Thummim,  placed  in  a  bow 
and  looked  through  upon  the  plates,  began  their  translation,  and 
preached  the  news  of  his  important  mission.  A  convert,  named 
Cowdery,  baptized  him,  it  being  so  commanded  by  the  angel,  in 
order  that  a  beginning  should  be  made;  and  the  prophet  then 
baptized  his  convert.  At  this  ceremony  in  the  woods  of  Penn- 
sylvania, in  the  clear  Susquehannah,  or  one  of  its  branches,  there 
were  present,  to  approve  of  this  necessity,  and  by  their  sanctions 
remit  irregularity,  the  angels  or  spirits  of  Moses  and  Elias  of  the 
old  dispensation ;  as  also  Peter,  James,  and  John  of  the  new,* 
In  1830  the  first  organization  was  made  in  Manchester,  New 
York,  and  that  is  the  Epoch  of  the  New  Church  of  the  Latter- 
Day  Saints.  Revelations  were  made  to  Joseph,  and  certain  men 
were  designated  by  the  revelator  for  missionary  labor,  and  converts 
increased ;  or,  as  one  of  the  members  of  that  day,  and  an  apostle 
now,  said,  "the  word  of  the  Lord  greatly  grew  and  magnified, 
and  many  were  obedient  to  the  faith  "  —  and  soon  we  find  that  at 
Kirtland,  Ohio,  a  temple  was  in  process  of  building. 

But,  for  certain  reasons,  hereafter  to  be  developed,  this  place 
was  abandoned,  and  a  spot  designated  by  revelation  in  Missouri, 
was  declared  to  be  intended  for  them,  as  their  inheritance  —  for 

*  Book  Doc.  and  Cov.  27. 


PERSECUTIONS.  29 

"there  was  the  New  Jerusalem  to  be  built  by  the  saints,  after  a 
pattern  sent  down  from  heaven,  and  upon  the  spot  where  the 
garden  of  Eden  bloomed,  and  Adam  was  formed."  The  altar  on 
which  Adam  did  sacrifice,  was  shown  to  Joseph,  at  least  some  of 
the  stones  of  which  it  was  built;  and,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
river,  a  city  was  located  in  the  place  where  Adam  blessed  his 
children. 

In  that  state,  cruel  persecutions  followed  —  driven  from  Zion, 
they  took  refuge  in  adjoining  counties  —  and  again  crimes  of  a 
dark  dye  were  alleged  against  them ;  the  leaders  were  imprisoned 
for  treason,  and  they  aver  that  in  one  jail  they  were  furnished 
with  human  flesh  for  food:  the  flesh  of  their  own  slaughtered 
comrades.  They  suffered  greatly;  and  finally,  expelled  by  force  of 
law  and  the  mob,  they  took  refuge  in  Illinois,  and  began  the 
building  of  a  temple  in  the  city  of  Nauvoo ;  a  city  which  in  a 
few  years  had  twenty  thousand  inhabitants.  But,  though  caressed 
for  a  time,  they  fell  under  suspicion,  as  they  allege,  most 
unjustly,  on  account  of  the  flocking  in  of  horse-thieves  and 
counterfeiters,  who  carried  on  secretly  their  nefarious  plans,  as  in 
other  towns ;  and  all  the  crimes  committed  in  the  country  around 
were  maliciously  attributed  to  them.  It  ended  in  the  murder  of 
Joseph,  the  Seer,  and  Hyrum,  the  Patriarch,  by  the  mob  at 
Carthage  jail,  in  1844,  and  the  re-organization  of  the  major  part 
of  the  society,  under  Brigham  Young,  as  the  Lord's  Prophet  and 
Seer  to  the  saints,  to  receive  the  revelations  for  them  in  a  church 
capacity,  with  the  title  of  First  President. 

A  temporary  lull  ensued  in  the  tempest  of  persecution,  but  the 
storm  gathered  force  again.  Such  threats  were  made,  that  it  was 
necessary  to  seek  another  home.  A  prophecy  having  been  made 
by  the  present  venerable  patriarch,  and  the  uncle  of  the  late  seer, 
that  they  must  retire  to  the  wilderness  and  endure  perils  and  trib- 
ulations for  a  time,  before  their  final  triumph  over  their  foes,  a 
delegation  was  dispatched  to  the  mountains ;  and  Salt  Lake  Val- 
ley was  selected,  in  the  far-off  California  of  Mexico)  as  a  resting 
place. 

3* 


30  COLONISING. 

SETTLING   SALT   LAKE   VALLEYS. 

Under  the  conduct  of  "Brigham  the  Seer7'  a  colony  of  4000 
persons  was  planted  there  in  1847; — 'the  Presidency  arrived  on 
the  24th  of  July,  which  day  was  one  of  joy  and  gladness,  and  its 
anniversaries  are  to  be  held  in  great  esteem,  and  celebrated  with 
rejoicings  evermore.  In  five  days  a  large  tract  was  ploughed, 
planted  with  potatoes,  and  the  city-creek  dammed,  and  irrigating 
ditches  filled ;  and  the  spot  on  which  they  first  rested  being  the 
most  eligible  site  in  the  valley,  a  city  was  immediately  laid  out, 
A  fort  enclosing  about  forty  acres,  was  built,  by  facing  log-houses 
inward,  and  picketing  four  gateways  on  each  side  of  the  square, 
making  a  line  nearly  a  mile  and  a  half  in  length  —  the  timber  be- 
ing hauled  several  miles,  and  cut  in  the  distant  kanyons. 

The  land  was  consecrated  by  solemn  ceremonies  to  the  Lord  and 
his  saints,  and  a  permanent  location  made  on  territory,  to  which 
none  of  the  wandering  tribes  of  Indians  could  show  a  title,  which 
they  thought  of  such  validity,,  that  they  ought  to  purchase  it,  or 
snake  remuneration  to  them  for  its  occupancy. 

During  the  following  year,  every  month  was  so  mild  that  they 
ploughed  and  sowed  in  each, —  but  though  the  winter  was  auspi- 
cious and  all  things  so  favorable,  they  were  so  reduced  in  provisions 
as  to  eat  the  hides  of  the  slaughtered  animals,  and  eagerly  searched 
them  out  of  the  ditches,  and  tore  them  from  the  roofs  of  the 
houses,  to  boil  them  for  the  table,  and  they  dug  side  by  side  with 
the  miserable  Utes  for  the  wild  roots  used  by  them  for  food.  But 
the  most  formidable  enemy  they  had  to  contend  with,  as  the  crops 
were  nearing  maturity,  was  the  army  of  black,  ungainly  crickets 
— "  a  frightful  bug,"  as  a  Liverpool  sojourner  called  it  when  first 
he  saw  one  :  —  which,  descending  from  the  mountain-sides,  destroy- 
ed every  green  herb  in  their  way.  In  vain  did  the  sorrowful  far- 
mers surround  their  fields  with  trenches,  and  fill  them  with  water ; 
the  black  host,  leaping  in,  floated  over,  and  with  wonderful  instinct, 
kept  on  the  course  of  march,  and  mounting  up  the  wheat-stalk, 
would  cut  it  off  at  the  curve  which  was  bent  by  the  weight  of  the 
fruit  more  precious  than  golden  seeds.  -Whole  families  might  be 


THE   WHITE   GULLS.  31 

seen  standing  guard,  with  branches  and  boards  in  their  hands,  ut- 
tering loud  shouts,  and  endeavoring  to  turn  back  and  beat  off  the 
invaders.  In  some  instances,  they  succeeded  in  changing  the  di- 
rection of  the  march  along  the.  streams,  and  destroyed  many  in  the 
waters,  but  it  was  only  a  partial  relief  on  a  few  points  of  attack. 

But  better  defenders  soon  came,  to  their  aid.  These  were  the 
most  beautiful  birds  of  the  valley,  the  glossy  white  gulls,  with 
bright  red  beaks  and  feet ;  dovelike  in  form  and  motion,  with  plu- 
mage of  downy  texture  and  softness.  After  the  first  moulting  of  the 
crickets,  they  came  in  flocks  to  feast  on  the  banquet  which  was  so 
bountifully  spread  for  their  reception.  In  early  dawn,  they  rise 
from  the  nesting  islands  of  the  Great  Lake  and  gliding  through 
the  air,  gracefully  alight  on  the  smooth  and  gentle  slopes  at  the 
last  of  the  terraces  at  the  mountains'  base,  and  feast  the  livelong 
day. 

Luxurious  like  their  Roman  prototypes,  when  filled  to  satiety, 
they  disgorge,  the  meal,  and  return  with  renewed  appetites  to  the 
plentiful  repast ;  and  just  as  the  sun  touches  the  highest  mountain- 
peaks  in  the  -ranges  of  the  Great  Salt  Desert  to  the  West,  they 
expand  their  long  wings,  and  soar  away  in  countless  multitudes  to 
their  insular  retreats,  secure  from  molestation.  A  few  vigilant  sen- 
tinels pass  to  and  fro  during  the  day,  watchful  of  the  callow 
young;  caring  for  their  wants,  and  conveying  intelligence  seemingly 
to  the  old  and  the  young,  at  home  and  abroad,  that  "all's  well." 
Since  that  season,  the  crops  of  the  Mormons  have  amply  met  their 
wants;  protection  to  their  fields  is  more  perfect,  and  the  assiduous 
gulls  continue  their  annual  visit,  which  at  first  was  supposed  mirac- 
ulous ;  and  for  the  three  past  years  there  has  been  a  surplus  of 
food,  which  was  sold  to  the  gold  emigrants  at  a  less  price  than  at 
fort  Laramie,  four  hundred  miles  nearer  the  States. 

Their  admirable  system  of  combining  labor,  while  each  has  his 
own  property,  in  land  and  tenements,  and  the  proceeds  of  his  in- 
dustry, the  skill  in  dividing  off  the  lands,  and  conducting  the  irri- 
gating canals  to  supply  the  want  of  water,  which  rarely  falls  be- 
tween April  and  October, —  the  cheerful  manner  in  which  every 
one  applies  himself  industriously,  but  not  laboriously :  —  the  com- 


32  MORMON   EXTENSION. 

plete  reign  of  good  neighborhood  and  quiet  in  house  and  fields, 
form  themes  for  admiration  to  the  stranger  coming  from  the  dark 
and  sterile  recesses  of  the  mountain  gorges  into  this  flourishing 
valley  :  —  and  he  is  struck  with  wonder  at  the  immense  results, 
produced  in  so  short  a  time  by  a  handful  of  individuals. 

This  is  the  result  of  the  guidance  of  all  those  hands  by  one 
master  mind;  and  we  see  a  comfortable  people  residing  where, 
it  is  not  too  much  to  say,  the  ordinary  mode  of  subduing  and 
settling  our  wild  lands  could  never  have  been  applied. 

To  accomplish  this,  there  was  required  religious  fervor,  with 
the  flame  fanned  by  the  breezes  of  enthusiasm — the  encircling  of 
bands  into  the  closest  union,  by  the  outward  pressure  of  persecu- 
tion—  the  high  hopes  of  laying  up  a  prospective  reward,  and 
returning  to  their  deserted  homes  in  great  prosperity  —  the  belief 
of  re-enacting  the  journey  of  the  Israeli tish  church  under  another 
Moses,  through  the  Egypt  already  passed,  to  arrive  at  another 
Jerusalem,  more  heavenly  in  its  origin,  and  beautiful  in  its 
proportions  and  decorations. 

Single  families  on  that  line  of  travel  would  have  starved  or 
fallen  by  the  treachery  of  the  Sioux,  the  cunning  of  the  Crows 
and  Shoshones,  or  the  hatred  of  the  savage  Utahs.  Concert  and 
courage  of  the  best  kind  were  required  and  brought  into  the  field, 
and  the  result  is  before  us  —  to  their  own  minds  as  the  direct 
blessing  and  interposition  of  Providence,  to  others  the  natural 
reward  of  associated  industry  and  perseverance. 

Four  other  colonies  have  branched  off  from  this  parent  one, 
and  cities  with  thickly  populated  and  rapidly  growing  suburbs, 
extend  on  a  line  of  two  hundred  miles,  from  Box  Elder  creek  on 
the  north,  to  the  Little  Salt  Lake  on  the  south,  and  thence  towards 
San  Diego :  at  the  turn  of  the  Nevada  Mountain,  a  rancho  has 
been  purchased  and  a  station  made,  soon  to  be  followed  by  others; 
whereby  a  chain  of  posts  will  be  established  for  the  convenience 
of  receiving  their  emigration  by  way  of  a  seaport  on  the  Pacific. 

The  Great  Salt  Lake  City  was  laid  out  into  squares  in  1847 ; 
the  streets  are  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  feet  wide,  with  twenty 
feet  side- walks,  and  the  City  creek  divided  to  run  along  each  walk 


NEW   MORMON    SETTLEMENTS.  33 

and  water  a  colonnade  of  trees,  and  also  to  be  led  into  the  gardens. 
The  lots  contain  each  nearly  an  acre,  and  face  on  alternate  streets 
with  eight  lots  in  each  block. 

The  site  is  on  a  scarcely  perceptible  slope,  except  the  northern 
part,  which  rises  upon  the  first  natural  terrace,  and  lies  in  the 
angle  of  the  main  Wahsatch  range,  running  north  and  south,  and 
a  giant  spur  that  makes  out  directly  to  the  west,  and  terminates  one 
half  mile  from  the  Jordan  Eiver.  The  city  is  four  miles  square, 
and  touches  the  river  bank  on  the  west  side.  It  can  be  watered 
by  several  creeks,  and  a  canal  twelve  miles  long,  to  cross  three 
other  streams,  is  constructed ;  to  bring  the  Big  Cottonwood  along 
the  eastern  terrace  to  the  present  capital  of  this  new  empire. 

Forty  miles  north  is  Ogden  City,  beautifully  located  near  the 
junction  of  Ogden  and  Weber  rivers  —  and  sixty  miles  south  is 
another  plat,  soon  to  be  occupied,  on  the  Timpanogos ;  and  thence 
one  hundred  and  thirty  miles  in  the  same  direction,  is  the  city  of 
Manti,  and  settlement  of  the  San  Pete  Valley.  Paroan,  or  Iron 
City,  so  named  from  the  abundance  of  ore,  and  facilities  for 
procuring  fuel  for  their  furnaces,  is  in  the  valley  of  the  Little 
Salt  Lake,  where  it  is  reported  that  a  much  larger  body  of 
irrigable  land  is  found  than  in  that  first  settled. 

In  Tuilla  Valley,  thirty  miles  west  of  the  temple,  is  a  settle- 
ment ;  and  there  are  now  in  successful  operation  ten  saw  and  five 
grist  mills,  and  others  erecting  in  all  the  newer  locations.  A 
large,  commodious  state-house  was  completed  in  1850;  and  a 
wooden  railway  laid  to  the  Red  Butte  quarries,  four  miles  distant, 
for  transporting  the  fine  red  sandstone  to  the  Temple  Block,  where 
a  gorgeous  pile  is  to  be  erected,  which  shall  surpass  in  magnificence 
any  yet  built  by  man,  and  which  shall  be  second  only  to  that 
finally  to  be  constructed  by  themselves,  when  the  Presidency  shall 
be  installed  at  the  New  Jerusalem,  on  the  temple  site  of  Zion. 

To  the  north  of  Temple  Block,  and  close  by,  towers  up  and 
overlooks  the  Temple  City,  the  "  Ensign  Mound/'  It  terminates 
the  great  spur,  and  is  conspicuous  in  approaching  the  city,  from 
every  quarter.  On  this  mountain  peak  there  is  soon  to  be 
unfurled  the  most  magnificent  flag  ever  thrown  to  the  breeze, 


34  MORMON   PROSPERITY. 

constructed  out  of  the  banner  flags  of  all  peoples.  Joined  in 
symbolical  unity,  "the  flag  of  all  nations"  shall  wave  above  the 
sacred  temple ;  then  shall  they  verify  the  decree  given  by  the 
Prophet  Isaiah  — (ch.  ii.  18,  25.)— "All  ye  inhabitants  of 
the  world  and  dwellers  upon  earth,  see  ye,  when  he  lifteth  up  an 
ensign  upon  the  mountains  — •  and  he  will  lift  up  an  ensign  to  the 
nations  from  far,  and  will  hiss  unto  them  from  the  end  of  the 
earth  —  and  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  the  last  days  that  the  moun- 
tain of  the  Lord's  house  shall  be  established  in  the  tops  of  the 
mountains,  and  shall  be  exalted  above  the  hills,  and  all  nations 
shall  flow  into  it." 

Their  comparative  comfort  and  degree  of  prosperity  is  signifi- 
cantly shown  by  the  fact  that  they  canvassed  the  country,  to 
ascertain  how  many  inmates  there  would  be  for  a  poor-house,  and 
finding  only  two  disposed  to  ask  public  bounty,  they  concluded 
that  it  was  not  yet  time  to  build  a  house  of  charity :  and  this 
among  the  thousands  who,  three  years  before,  were  deprived  of 
their  property,  and  could,  with  the  utmost  difficulty,  transport 
their  families  into  the  valley. 


CHAPTER  III. 

SPIRITUAL   CLAIMS    OF   THE   MORMONS. 

SUCH  then  is  the  outward  appearance  of  this  separate  people. 
But  it  is  not  enough  in  this  enquiring  age  to  portray  merely  their 
external  condition,  and  the  country  they  inhabit. 

They  claim  to  be  "  separate  and  peculiar  "  on  higher  and  diffe- 
rent grounds,  than  worldly  prosperity  and  human  laws; — and 
those  pretensions,  with  the  consequent  action,  have  called  forth 
much  vain  and  erroneous  speculation,  from  not  fully  comprehend- 
ing the  principles  which  give  rise  to  their  conduct,  in  their  relations 
to  other  communities  and  individuals.  The  pretension  is,  that  they 
constitute  the  only  true  Church  of  God  and  His  Son,  and  their 
hopes  rest  upon  the  expectation  of  the  intervention  soon  of  the 
King  of  Kings,  by  which,  under  the  guidance  of  the  Spirit,  they 
shall  gather  to  themselves  individually,  all  who  are  destined  and 
prepared  to  listen  to  the  voice  of  Truth;  and  then  all  the  sects  of 
Christendom  will  be  absorbed  into  that  one  most  concentrated  and 
most  numerous. 

When  these  two  hosts  are  fairly  marshalled,  the  one  under  the 
banner  of  the  Pope  of  Rome,  and  "  the  saints  "  around  the  "  Flag 
of  all  nations/ '  "led  by  their  Seer,"  wearing  the  consecrated 
breastplate,  and  flourishing  the  glittering  golden  sword  of  Laban, 
delivered  him  by  angelic  hands,  from  their  long  resting-place ;  then 
shall  be  fought  the  great  battle,  mystically  called,  of  Gog  and  Ma- 
gog :  —  the  Lord  contending  for  his  people  with  fire,  pestilence, 
and  famine ;  and  in  the  end,  the  earth  will  become  the  property 
of  the  Saints,  and  He  will  descend  from  His  heavenly  throne  to 
reign  over  them  through  a  happy  Millennium. 

(35) 


36  SPIRITUAL   EXPECTATIONS. 

During  the  preparations  for  those  battles,  to  be  more  fierce  than 
man  ever  yet  has  fought,  the  Jews  will  be  erecting  another  tem- 
ple at  the  Palestine  Jerusalem,  on  which  their  long-expected  Sa- 
vior will  stand  and  exhibit  Himself  in  the  conquering  brightness 
that  they  supposed  he  would  bear  at  the  first  appearance,  and  their 
hearts  will  be  bowed  as  one  man  to  receive  Him,  with  repentant 
humility  for  the  past,  and  glorious  joy  for  the  future,  and  the  city 
will  rise  in  great  magnificence ;  —  and  the  New  Israelites  of  Amer- 
ica will  have  their  head-quarters  of  the  Presidency  in  Jackson 
County,  Missouri,  where  they  will  build  up  the  New  Jerusalem, 
the  joy  of  the  whole  earth;  and,  at  the  presence  of  the  Lord  of 
Majesty,  the  land  which  "was  divided"  in  the  days  of  Noah  into 
continents  and  islands,  shall  be  <e  Beulahy  married"  and  become 
one  entirely  as  at  the  original  creation, — and,  from  these  two  cities, 
villas  and  habitations  shall  extend  in  one  continuous  neighbor- 
hood, among  which  shall  prevail  entire  concord :  no  one  will  have 
the  disposition  to  rebel  or  be  allowed  to  act  against  the  harmony 
of  the  whole. 

And  there  shall  be  "  thrown  up,"  between  the  two  Jerusalems 
"  the  highway  on  which  the  lion  hath  not  trod,  and  which  the 
eagle's  eye  hath  not  seen" — then  the  temple  described  by  Ezekiel 
will  be  erected  in  all  its  particulars  for  the  exercise  of  the  functions 
of  the  two  priesthoods, — for  the  Aaronic,  held  by  the  tribe  of 
Levi,  who  will  return  to  their  duties  and  renew  animal  sacrifices; 
and  for  the  Melchisedek,  the  greater  priesthood,  held  by  those 
commissioned  through  Joseph  the  Seer. 

At  the  end  of  the  Millennium,  those  who  have  not  been  sincere 
in  their  obedience  to  the  Lord's  reign  will  be  permitted  to  show  their 
rebellious  spirit  a  short  time  under  the  direction  of  their  captain 
Satan ;  and  at  last  be  overwhelmed  with  destruction  from  the  pre- 
sence of  the  good :  —  and  the  Earth,  which  is  believed  to  be  a 
creature  of  life,  will  be  celestialized  and  gloriously  beautified  for 
the  meek  and  pure  in  heart. 

Such  is  a  summary  outline  of  their  claims  and  expectations,  but 
the  preaching  from  the  pulpit,  and  extempore  teachings,  are  usu- 
ally confined  to  the  promulgation  of  doctrines  like  those  commonly 


ROUTINE   OF   WORSHIP.  37 

taught  by  the  Christian  sects  which  hold  to  Faith,  Repentance, 
Baptism,  and  the  Resurrection  of-  the  Body. 

Their  mode  of  conducting  worship  is  to  assemble  at  a  particular 
hour,  and  the  senior  priest  then  indicates  order  by  asking  a  bless- 
ing on  the  congregation  and  exercises  —  when  a  hymn  from  their 
own  collection  is  sung,  prayer  made  extempore,  and  another  sa- 
cred song,  followed  by  a  sermon  from  some  one  previously  appoint- 
ed to  preach ;  which  is  usually  continued  by  exhortations  and 
remarks  from  those  who  "feel  moved  upon  to  speak."  Then 
notices  of  the  arrangement  of  the  tithe  labor  for  the  ensuing  week, 
and  information  on  all  secular  matters,  interesting  to  them  in  a 
church  capacity,  is  read  by  the  council  clerk,  and  the  congregation 
dismissed  by  a  benediction. 

While  the  congregation  is  assembling  and  departing  from  the 
house,  it  is  usual  for  the  large  and  excellent  band  of  music  to  per- 
form anthems,  marches,  and  waltzes,  which  drives  away  all  sombre 
feelings,  and  prepares  the  mind  for  the  exciting  and  often  eloquent 
discourses.  As  there  are  a  large  number  of  Welsh  in  the  meet- 
ings, and  many  of  them  not  understanding  the  English  language, 
a  version  of  the  principal  discourse  is  sometimes  made  to  them  by 
an  interpreter,  and  a  Welsh  choir  will  then  exhilarate  all  present 
by  singing  one  of  their  hymns,  to  one  of  their  charming,  wild, 
romantic  airs. 

We  will  now  open  up  the  view  of  their  particular  doctrines, 
first  premising  that  what  is  here  stated  is  drawn  from  the  perusal 
of  some  of  their  accredited  books,  and  heard  in  their  pulpit 
preaching  —  or  obtained  in  free  conversation  with  their  well- 
instructed  and  principal  men.  Nor  would  I,  in  the  least,  wish  to 
misrepresent  the  doctrines  themselves,  or  abuse  any  confidence  of 
the  friends,  whom  I  feel  justified  to  call  such,  among  them,  on 
account  of  their  kindness,  oftentimes  shown  in  circumstances  to 
be  appreciated.  Many  points  were  elicited  by  direct  interrogation, 
and  others  obtained  from  the  oral  discourses  on  the  preacher's 
stand  —  and  as  it  was  a  common  thing  for  the  speakers,  when  not 
of  the  Presidency,  to  appeal  to  their  superiors,  who  sat  behind 
them  to  correct  any  thing  mistaken  for  the  teaching  of  the  Holy 
4 


38  MORMON    DOCTRINES. 

Spirit,  through  their  mouths ;  all  such  doctrines  w<  suppose  to  be 
adopted  as  true  which  were  suffered  to  go  unrebuked.  That  most 
of  this  exposition  is  the  constant  subject  of  teaching,  we  by  no 
means  affirm  —  as  in  all  Christian  sects,  it  is  seldom  that  abstruse 
themes  are  discussed  before  a  promiscuous  audience — the  principal 
part  of  this  theology  is  the  "strong  meat"  reserved  for  those  who 
have  been  fed  on  the  milk,  as  weaker  members. 

We  first  introduce  an  article  taken  from  the  paper  called  the 
Frontier  Guardian,  edited  by  Orson  Hyde,  of  the  Apostolic 
College,  and  I  believe  at  the  head  of  it,  giving  the  faith  of  the 
Latter-Day  Saints. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

LATTER-DAY  SAINTS*  FAITH. 

"WE  believe  in  God  the  eternal  Father,  and  his  son  Jesus 
Christ,  and  in  the  Holy  Ghost. 

We  believe  that  men  will  be  punished  for  their  own  sins,  and 
not  for  Adam's  transgressions. 

We  believe  that  through  the  atonement  of  Christ  all  mankind 
may  be  saved,  by  obedience  to  the  laws  and  ordinances  of  the 
Gospel. 

We  believe  that  these  ordinances  are  —  1st.  Faith  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ:  2d.  Eepentance:  3d.  Baptism  by  immersion  for  the 
remission  of  sins :  4th.  Laying  on  of  hands  by  the  gift  of  the 
Holy  Spirit :  5th.  The  Lord's  Supper. 

We  believe  that  men  must  be  called  of  God  by  inspiration,  and 
by  laying  on  of  hands  from  those  who  are  duly  commissioned  to 
preach  the  Gospel,  and  administer  in  the  ordinances  thereof. 

We  believe  in  the  same  organization  that  existed  in  the  primitive 
church,  viz :  apostles,  prophets,  pastors,  teachers,  evangelists,  &c. 

We  believe  in  the  powers  and  gifts  of  the  everlasting  gospel, 
viz :  the  gift  of  faith,  discerning  of  spirits,  prophecy,  revelation, 
visions,  healing,  tongues,  and  the  interpretation  of  tongues,  wisdom, 
charity,  brotherly  love,  &c. 

We  believe  the  word  of  God  recorded  in  the  Bible,  we  also 
believe  the  word  of  God  recorded  in  the  Book  of  Mormon,  and 
in  all  other  good  books. 

We  believe  all  that  God  has  revealed,  all  that  he  does  now 
reveal,  and  we  believe  that  he  will  reveal  many  more  great  and 
important  things  pertaining  to  the  kingdom  of  God  and  Messiah's 
second  coining. 


40  FAITH    OF   THE    MORMONS. 

We  believe  in  the  literal  gathering  of  Israel,  and  in  the  resto- 
ration of  the  ten  tribes,  that  Zion  will  be  established  upon  the 
western  continent,  that  Christ  will  reign  personally  upon  the  earth 
a  thousand  years,  and  that  the  earth  will  be  renewed,  and  receive 
its  paradisaical  glory. 

We  believe  in  the  literal  resurrection  of  the  body,  and  that  the 
rest  of  the  dead  live  not  again  until  the  thousand  years  are 
expired. 

We  claim  the  privilege  of  worshipping  Almighty  God  according 
to  the  dictates  of  our  conscience,  unmolested,  and  allow  all  men 
the  same  privilege,  let  them  worship  how  or  where  they  may. 

We  believe  in  being  subject  to  kings,  queens,  presidents, 
rulers,  and  magistrates;  in  obeying^  honoring,  and  sustaining 
the  law. 

We  believe  in  being  honest,  true,  chaste,  temperate,  benevolent, 
virtuous,  and  upright,  and  in  doing  good  to  all  men ;  indeed,  we 
may  say  that  we  follow  the  admonition  of  Paul,  we  "  believe  all 
things,"  we  "hope  all  things,"  we  have  endured  very  many 
things,  and  hope  to  be  able  to  "  endure  all  things."  Every  thing 
lowly,  virtuous,  praiseworthy,  and  of  good  report,  we  seek  after, 
looking  forward  "to  the  recompense  of  reward."  But  an  idle  or 
lazy  person  cannot  be  a  Christian,  neither  have  salvation.  He  is 
a  drone,  and  destined  to  be  stung  to  death  and  tumbled  out  of  the 
hive." 

The  books  regarded  as  authoritative  with  them,  and  which  give 
a  fuller  illustration  are  —  The  Book  of  Mormon  —  Doctrines  and 
Covenants  —  Voice  of  Warning  —  The  Gospel  Reflector  —  The 
Times  and  Seasons,  edited  under  the  eye  of  the  Prophet  —  The 
Millennial  Star — and  the  writings  of  Joseph  the  Seer  and  Parley 
P.  Pratt,  wherever  found;  and  the  "General  Epistles  of  the 
Presidency  in  Desere*t." 

We  will  not  take  up  this  seriatim,  but  remark,  that  it  is  only 
when  we  come  to  the  definition  of  terms,  that  the  peculiarities  of 
belief  will  appear  in  their  theology.  They  believe  in  the  sacred 
character  of  the  Bible,  but  what  interpretations  do  they  give  to  its 


FAITH   OF   THE    MORMONS.  41 

pages?  —  they  believe  in  God,  but  what  is  the  character  assigned 
to  the  Deity?  —  they  adopt  the  Sacraments,  but  of  what  efficacy 
and  application  to  Salvation  ? 

Of  the  Bible  it  is  taught,  that  in  the  main  we  have  a  correct 
translation  of  that  given  by  Inspiration  in  the  version  called  King 
James' ; —  but  that  there  have  been  many  interpolations  by  design 
of  the  corrupters  of  Christianity,  and  many  misunderstandings  of 
several  passages.  These  have  all  been  corrected  by  Joseph  the  Seer, 
to  whom  was  given  "the  key  of  all  languages," — or  as  he  says 
in  The  Last  Sermon,  the  one  he  preached  at  Nauvoo,  and  which 
was  reported  by  some  one  and  printed  after  his  death,  "  I  know 
more  than  all  the  world  put  together,  and  the  Holy  Ghost  within 
me  comprehends  more  than  all  the  world,  and  I  will  associate  with 
it," — and  thus  having  direct  inspiration  to  do  this  work,  the  emen- 
dated book  is  prepared  and  is  soon  to  be  printed.  As  a  specimen 
of  the  alterations  on  this  vital  subject,  we  quote  from  the  same 
paper  as  above ;  "  I  will  make  a  comment  on  the  very  first  sen- 
tence of  the  history  of  the  creation  in  the  Bible.  It  first  read, 
'  The  head  one  of  the  Gods  brought  forth  the  Gods.'  If  you  do 
not  believe  it,  you  do  not  believe  the  learned  man  of  God.  And 
in  further  explanation  it  is  observed  that  it  means,  The  Head  God 
called  together  the  Gods,  and  sat  in  grand  council.  The  grand 
counsellors  sat  in  yonder  heavens,  and  contemplated  the  worlds 
that  were  created  at  that  time/  The  Bible  is  therefore  held  to  be 
the  foundation  book,  but  instead  of  taking  it  in  the  usual  sense, 
there  must  be  a  certain  change  of  meaning  in  the  most  important 
point,  which  will  be  elaborated  when  we  speak  concerning  the  De- 
ity. But  when  it  is  read,  it  is  to  be  taken  in  its  most  literal  sense 
and  they  most  pointedly  condemn  those  who  spiritualize  its  contents, 
saying  that  God  is  honest  when  he  speaks  with  man,  and  uses 
words  in  their  literal  acceptation  and  ( never  palters  in  a  double 
sense/  "  But  the  Word  of  God  is  held  to  be  not  confined  to  this 
one  Book,  and,  of  others  in  existence,  they  take  of  equal  authority 
the  Book  of  Mormon,  and  "  Doctrines  and  Covenants."  The  lat- 
ter is  composed  of  a  lecture  on  Faith  in  six  sections,  written  by 

Rigdon,  though  published  in  the  name  of  the  Prophet,  and  several 
4* 


42  FAITH   OF   THE    MORMONS. 

Revelations  to  the  Seer  and  Revelator;  and  these  books  are  claim- 
ed to  be  a  "three-fold  cord"  agreeing  in  sentiment  and  purpose, 
and  unfolding  the  dealings  of  God  toward  man  and  the  church. 
Additional  revelations  are  made  from  day  to  day  according  to  the 
exigences  of  the  people  and  church ;  and  this  is  assigned  as  the 
reason  why  they  are  so  far  in  advance  of  the  Christian  world  in 
spiritual,  heavenly  knowledge,  and  causes  them  to  sneer  upon  all 
who  adhere  alone  to  the  old  revelations,  and  to  pity  them  for  their 
blindness  and  ignorance.  u  A  flood  of  light  has  poured  into  their 
souls  and  raised  them  to  a  view  of  the  glorious  things  above  " — 
and  Development  may  be  called  the  distinguishing  feature  of  their 
church.  The  Rock  on  which  the  church  is  founded  is  by  them 
declared  to  be  Revelation.  And  it  was  on  what  "  had  been  re- 
vealed to  Peter  "  that  the  church  was  to  rest :  —  in  other  words 
we  may  state  their  doctrine  to  be,  that  Revelation,  which  is  now 
with  them,  is  the  Rock  of  the  Church  of  Christ. 

"Thus  saith  the  Lord  *  *  *  *  *  my  gon  ^ou  ar^  blessed 
henceforth,  that  bear  the  keys  of  the  kingdom  given  unto  you" — 
"  verily  I  say  unto  you,  the  keys  of  this  kingdom  shall  never  be 
taken  from  you,  while  thou  art  in  the  world' ' — "And  *  *  I  give 
unto  you  a  commandment,  ^that  you  continue  in  the  ministry  and 
Presidency,  and  when  you  have  finished  the  translation  of  the 
prophets  you  shall  from  henceforth  preside  over  the  affairs  of  the 
church  and  the  schools,  and  from  time  to  time,  as  shall  be  manifest 
from  the  Comforter,  receive  revelations  to  unfold  the  mysteries  of 
the  kingdom,  and  set  in  order,  and  study  and  learn  and  become 
acquainted  with  all  good  books,  and  with  languages,  tongues,  and 
people/'  This  extract  from  the  Revelation  given  in  1833  and 
found  in  the  Book  of  Covenants,  page  329,  is  here  inserted  to 
show  the  character  of  such  heavenly  communications  and  authority 
for  my  statements.  They  will  allow  that  their  Revelations  are 
contradictory  to  each  other,  but  that  is  explained  by  the  different 
"circumstances"  under  which  they  are  given;  "  heaven's  govern- 
ment is  conducted  on  the  principle  of  adapting  revelation  to  the 
varied  circumstances  of  the  children  of  the  kingdom." 


FAITH   OF   THE    MORMONS.  43 

DEITY. 

Let  us  now  return  to  the  consideration  of  the  article  first  named 
in  the  Latter-Day  Saints'  Faith  concerning  the  Deity.  The  Su- 
preme Hierarchy  that  is  worshipped  and  invoked  is  a  Trinity  or 
rather  a  duality  of  Persons. 

" God  the  Father,"  is  held  to  be  a  man  perfected:  but  so  far 
advanced  in  the  attributes  of  his  nature,  his  faith,  intelligence  and 
power,  that  in  comparison  with  us,  He  may  be  called  The  Infinite. 

The  "  Son,  Jesus  Christ,"  is  the  offspring  of  the  Father  by  the 
Virgin  Mary.  The  eternal  Father  came  to  the  earth,  and  wooed 
and  won  her  to  be  the  wife  of  his  bosom.  He  sent  his  herald- 
angel  Gabriel  to  announce  espousals  of  marriage,  and  the  Bride- 
groom and  bride  met  on  the  plains  of  Palestine,  and  the  Holy 
Babe  that  was  born  was  the  "  tabernacle "  prepared  for  and  as- 
sumed by  the  Spirit-Son,  and  that  now  constitutes  a  God. 

"The  Holy  Ghost"  is  the  concomitant  will  of  both  The  Father 
and  The  Son ;  the  one  mind  possessed  and  acting  in  each,  which 
produces  universal  harmony  of  thought,  wisdom,  and  being, 
throughout  their  dominions.  The  Spirit  differs  from  the  Father 
and  Son,  in  being  merely  a  Spiritual  Soul  or  Existence,  which  has 
never  taken  a  tabernacle,  that  is,  a  material  body  as  the  Gods  have, 
and  has  not  therefore  died,  after  passing  the  period  of  probation, 
and  thence  through  the  Resurrection  to  perfection. 

In  this  statement  I  have  endeavoured  to  give  their  true  teach- 
ing, and  do  not  intend  to  criticise  or  explain  any  apparent  contra- 
dictions. The  authority  for  the  first  two  propositions  is  found  in 
the  Last  Sermon  of  their  great  prophet,  which  relieves  me,  in  a 
measure  from  the  pain  of  stating  them, —  but  facts  and  principles 
are  here  involved  on  which  the  candor  and  judgment  of  the  reader 
must  be  exercised.  What  is  influencing  the  life-philosophy  of 
hundreds  of  thousands  is  not  a  thing  of  slight  importance,  or  to 
be  misstated  with  impunity. 

"  First,  God  himself,  who  sits  enthroned  in  yonder  heavens,  is 
a  man  like  unto  one  of  yourselves,  that  is  the  great  secret.  If 
the  vail  was  rent  to-day,  and  the  great  God  who  holds  this  world 
in  its  orbit,  and  upholds  all  things  by  his  power,  if  you  were  to 


44  FAITH   OF   THE   MORMONS. 

see  him  to-day,  you  would  see  him  in  all  the  person,  image,  and 
very  form  as  a  man ;  for  Adam  was  created  in  the  very  fashion 
and  image  of  God;  Adam  received  instruction,  walked,  talked, 
and  conversed  with  him,  as  one  man  talks  and  communes  with 
another."  *  *  *  "  I  am  going  to  tell  you  how  God  came  to  be 
God.  God  himself,  the  Father  of  us  all,  dwelt  on  an  earth,  the 
same  as  Jesus  Christ  himself  did,  and  I  will  show  it  from  the 
Bible.  Jesus  said,  as  the  Father  hath  power  in  himself,  even  so 
hath  the  Son  power;  to  do  what?  why,  what  the  Father  did,  that 
answer  is  obvious :  in  a  manner  to  lay  down  his  body  and  take  it 
up  again.  Jesus,  what  are  you  going  to  do  ?  —  To  lay  down  my 
life  as  my  Father  did,  and  take  it  up  again/' 

There  is  a  quotation  extant  from  the  author  of  the  "  Voice  of 
Warning/'  to  the  effect  that  "  we  worship  a  God  who  hath  both 
body  and  parts ;  who  has  eyes,  mouth,  and  ears,  and  who  speaks 
when,  and  to  whom  he  pleases — who  is  just  as  good  at  mechanical 
inventions  as  at  any  other  business." 

But  we  are  referred  by  their  teachers  to  the  Apocalypse,  where 
it  is  written  of  the  redeemer:  "And  hath  made  us  kings  and 
priests  unto  God  and  his  Father ;"  and  to  the  Apostle  that  said, 
"there  are  gods  many  and  lords  many/'  to  prove  that  the  Father 
had  "  his  Father,"  and  they  talk  boldly  of  the  grandfather,  great- 
grandfather of  God,  thus  tracing  back  almost  ad  infinitum  to  the 
"Head  God,  that  called  the  grand  council  together  when  the 
worlds  came  rolling  into  existence."  We,  however,  have  only  to 
limit  o  r  worship,  and  obey  our  Heavenly  Father  and  His  Son, 
who  are  revealed  to  us  by  the  Spirit ;  and  <(  when  we  know  how 
to  come  to  him,  he  is  ready  to  come  to  us  and  unfold  the  heavens 
to  our  knowledge/'  The  Son  (when  a  spirit)  took  of  the 
unformed  "chaotic  matter;  element  which  had  an  existence  from 
the  time  God  had,  and  in  which  dwells  all  the  glory,"  and  formed 
our  earth  and  the  planetary  world,  peopled,  and  has  redeemed  it. 
He  is  to  be  worshipped  as  Lord  of  all,  and  heir  of  the  Father  in 
power,  creation,  and  dominion.  "What  did  Jesus  do? — why,  I  do 
the  things  that  I  saw  my  Father  do  when  worlds  came  rolling 
into  existence  —  I  saw  my  Father  work  out  his  kingdom  with 


FAITH    OF    THE    MORMONS.  45 

fear  and  trembling,  and  I  must  do  the  same."     (Last  Sermon, 
p.  61.) 

So  of  each  man,  whose  spirit  hath  the  same  Father — by  obe- 
dience and  faith  he  may  be  perfected,  and  attain  to  the  power  of 
forming  a  planet,  peopling  and  redeeming  it,  over  which  he  may 
reign  forever.  And  all  who  do  not  obey  the  revelations  now  sent 
to  them,  and  properly  fulfil  their  probation,  will  only  succeed  to 
an  inferior  glory  and  be  permitted  to  act  as  servants,  "  hewers  of 
wood  and  drawers  of  water/'  in  some  one  of  the  King  Saints' 
Kingdoms;  just  fitted  to  the  "glory"  they  have  lived  for,  or 
such  as  their  vicious  lives  will  allow.  In  reply  to  the  question, 
what  will  you  do  for  us?  —  they  will  say,  we  may  make  you 
bootblack  or  kitchen  scullion,  or  if  you  behave  pretty  well  and 
not  molest  the  saints,  you  may  be  raised  to  butler  or  baker,  and 
carry  the  train,  on  state  occasions,  of  our  queens  in  paradise. 
Things  on  earth,  and  customs  and  ceremonies,  are  patterned  after 
things  in  heaven,  and  will  be  continued  in  the  spirit  world  and 
future  abodes  of  the  gods.  Their  prophet  thus  instructs  the 
faithful  —  "You  have  got  to  learn  to  be  gods  yourselves ;  to  be 
kings  and  priests  to  God ;  the  same  as  all  the  gods  have  done,  by 
going  from  one  small  degree  to  another,  from  grace  to  grace,  from 
exaltation  to  exaltation,  until  you  are  able  to  sit  in  glory,  as  doth 
those  who  sit  enthroned  in  everlasting  power/'  And  in  seeking 
for  a  place  in  the  eternal  worlds,  we  are  informed  that  there  are 
four  different  glories  to  strive  for;  the  celestial,  or  highest,  the 
telestial,  the  terrestrial,  and  lake  of  fire — of  the  sun,  of  the  stars, 
of  the  earth,  and  the  burning  caldron. 

SACRAMENTS. 

The  Book  of  Covenants  teaches  that  baptism  is  duly  admi- 
nistered by  being  fully  immersed  in  the  water,  arid  that  any  other 
manner  of  applying  the  element  is  a  vain  ceremony.  Baptism, 
legally  partaken  of,  is  for  remission  of  sins ;  sins  only  forgiven  in 
baptism.  The  further  peculiarity  of  the  subject  consists  in  a 
vicarious  immersion  of  living  persons  for  their  dead  friends,  who 


46  FAITH    OF    THE    MORMONS. 

have  never  had  the  opportunity,  or  neglected  it  when  living.  This 
is  called  "  Baptism  for  the  Dead."  There  being,  according  to 
their  view,  a  probationary  state  in  the  spiritual  world,  while  that 
on  earth  exists,  so  that  by  proxy  one  can  fulfil  all  "righteousness/' 
by  submitting  to  all  prescribed  rites,  of  which  baptism  is  one  — 
it  is  presumed  that  those  gone  before  have  repented,  and  are  now 
desirous  of  baptistic  benefits;  and  hence  it  is  enjoined  that  the 
"greatest  responsibility  that  God  has  laid  on  us  is  to  look  after 
our  dead/'  and  ordered,  that  a  man  be  baptised  for  deceased 
relatives,  tracing  back  the  line  to  one  that  held  the  priesthood 
among  his  progenitors,  who,  being  a  saint,  will  then  take  up  the 
place  of  sponsor,  and  relieve  him  of  further  responsibility.  All 
those  who  are  thus  admitted  to  salvation  will  be  added  to  the 
household  of  the  baptized  person  at  the  resurrection,  who  will 
then  prefer  his  claim,  or  do  as  our  Lord  did  at  the  grave  of 
Lazarus,  and  call  them  forth  in  the  name  of  Jesus ;  over  whom, 
he,  as  the  most  distinguished  of  the  line,  will  reign  as  patriarch 
for  ever ;  and  his  rank  and  power  among  kingly  saints  will  be  in 
proportion  to  the  number  of  his  retinue. 

The  authority  for  this  application  of  the  rite  is  grounded  on 
the  interrogatory  of  the  Apostle  :  "  Else  what  shall  they  do  which 
are  baptized  for  the  dead,  if  the  dead  rise  not  at  all  ?  why  are 
they  then  baptized  for  the  dead?" — and  Joseph  observes  in  his 
sermon,  "  Every  man  who  has  got  a  friend  in  the  eternal  world 
can  save  him,  unless  he  has  committed  the  unpardonable  sin,  so 
you  can  see  how  far  you  can  be  a  Savior;"  the  Apostle  says, 
"they  without  us  cannot  be  made  perfect." 

The  child  begins  its  accountability  at  eight  years  of  age ;  up  to 
that  time  the  parents  are  responsible,  but  then  they  must  have  it 
baptized  into  the  church;  and  infant  baptism  is  held  to  be  an 
abomination  and  a  sin.  Regeneration  is  begun  in  baptism,  and 
perfected  by  the  laying  on  of  hands,  by  which  the  recipient  is  bap- 
tized by  the  Holy  Ghost  through  the  Melchisedek  priesthood. 

The  Sacrament  of  the  Communion  is  done,  for  a  "  remembrance 
of  the  body  and  blood  of  The  Son,"  that  they  may  always  re- 
member him  and  keep  his  commandments,  and  that  "they  may 


FAITH   OF   THE    MORMONS.  47 

have  his  Spirit  to  be  with  them."  This  is  according  to  the  Book 
of  Mormon,  and  bread  and  wine  are  to  be  used  as  the  symbols. 
But  by  a  revelation  it  is  forbidden  to  use  the  wine  made  by  the 
Gentiles,  and  until  they  can  procure  the  pure  juice  of  the  grape 
from  their  own  cultivation,  they  use  water  in  place  of  it,  for  "  it 
mattereth  not  what  ye  shall  eat,  or  what  ye  shall  drink,  when  ye 
partake  of  the  Sacrament,  if  it  so  be  that  ye  do  it  with  an  eye  sin- 
gle to  my  glory ;  —  wherefore  ye  shall  partake  of  none  [wine]  ex- 
cept it  be  made  new  among  you; "  and  the  bread  and  a  pail  with  a 
tin  or  glass  vessel  to  dip  the  water  is  carried  around  among  the 
congregation  on  their  seats,  by  the  bishops,  and  offered  to  young 
and  old  who  generally  partake ;  and  this  is  to  be  done  on  every 
Lord's  Day. 

After  sufficient  time  has  elapsed  to  build  a  temple  at  "  Zion " 
or  any  appointed  stake,  "  and  at  Jerusalem,  no  other  places  are 
allowed  for  the  baptisms  for  the  dead."  A  font  will  be  construct- 
ed in  the  house  of  the  Lord,  for  these  baptisms  which  were  institu- 
ted before  the  foundation  of  the  world  — "  and  elsewhere,  saith  the 
Lord  your  God,  they  cannot  be  acceptable  unto  me,  for  therein  are 
the  keys  of  the  Holy  Priesthood  ordained,  that  you  may  receive 
honor  and  glory/ '  (Book  of  Cov.  prophets' Rev.) 

The  sixth  General  Epistle  instructs  the  Saints  throughout  the 
world  to  gather  home,  and  pay  all  tithing  dues,  that  a  Temple  may 
be  soon  completed  for  the  Baptisms  of  living  and  dead.  It  says ; 
"To  be  prepared  for  a  celestial  heaven,  they  want  the  blessings  of 
The  Terrestrial  Temple  —  and  if  any  pass  the  temple  ordinances 
without  having  paid  all  tithe  dues,  Jesus  will  at  last  declare  they 
are  thieves  and  robbers  who  have  climbed  up  some  other  than  the 
appointed  way ;  the  ordinances  of  the  temple  are  as  necessary 
for  a  full  salvation  as  baptism  is  for  a  partial  salvation; — the 
voice  of  the  Good  Shepherd  is,  come  home/'  all  ye  saints. 


FAITH. 

The  teaching  upon  this  article  is  rather  abstruse  —  but  we  may 
perhaps  convey  its  import  in  a  few  words,  mostly  gleaned  from 


48  FAITH    OF    THE    MORMONS. 

the  book  of  Covenants.  It  seems  to  be  considered  an  exercise  of 
the  will  in  intelligent  beings  on  matters  of  belief,  for  acquiring 
celestial  glory,  and  accomplishing  holy  purposes  and  works.  It 
is  "  the  assurance  that  men  have  in  the  existence  of  unseen  things, 
and  the  principle  of  action  in  all  intelligent  beings;  without  it, 
both  mind  and  body  would  be  in  a  state  of  inactivity  " — and,  "  by 
faith  we  receive  all  temporal  and  spiritual  blessings/'  But  it  is 
not  only  the  principle  of  action,  but  of  power,  in  heaven  or  in 
earth;  for  we  find  that  \>y  faith,  God  created  the  worlds  —  (Heb. 
xi.  3.)  and  by  this  we  understand  it  to  be  the  principle  of  power 
in  the  bosom  of  God  by  which  he  works  :  — "  and,  take  this  prin- 
ciple or  attribute  away  from  the  Deity,  he  would  cease  to  exist/' 
(See  Book  of  Cov.  first  chapters.) 

"  God  spake,  chaos  heard,  and  worlds  came  into  order  by  reason 
of  the  Faith  that  was  in  him" — he  had  "element  and  the  prin- 
ciples of  element,  which  can  never  be  destroyed,  to  organize  it  out 
of;  —  and  as  these  aeon  atoms  are  "  intelligent  on  a  self-existent 
principle,  which  God  himself  could  not  create/'  we  must  class  the 
aggregate,  or  bodies  of  matter,  with  life  and  knowledge  capable 
of  exercising  faith ;  which  view  is  sustained,  in  the  language  of 
one  of  the  Presidency,  namely ;  — "  for  all  creation  is  alive,  even 
the  earth  itself  and  the  minerals  and  metals  and  every  other  thing 
connected  with  it;" — and  the  first  lecture  on  faith  has  these 
words  in  the  last  paragraph :  "  Faith,  then,  is  the  great  governing 
principle,  which  has  power,  dominion,  and  authority  over  all 
things." 

THE   EVERLASTING   GOSPEL. 

In  the  seventh  article  of  Belief  this  phrase  occurs.  By  it  we 
may  understand,  according  to  their  interpretation,  the  same  thing 
as  the  Laws  of  Nature,  or  whatever  name  is  used  to  express  the 
arrangement  of  the  universal  order  of  things  sprung  out  of  the 
"  two  self-existent  principles  of  Intelligence  and  Element,  or  mat- 
ter; "  and  it  is  The  Law  under  which  the  primordial  Gods  came 
into  being.  The  prophet  has  not  left  on  record,  to  my  knowledge, 
the  manner  in  which  the  Head  God  originated.  But  he  says 


FAITH    OF   THE    MORMONS.  49 

"  God  himself  could  not  create  himself,"  and  "  intelligence  exists 
upon  a  self-existent  principle :  it  is  a  spirit  from  age  to  age,  and 
there  is  no  creation  about  it."  In  conversation  with  the  more 
philosophical  ones,  this  question  of  origin  came  up  frequently,  and 
the  explanation  elicited  was  one  of  opinion  merely,  and  deduced 
by  the  reason  from  the  principles  already  taught  by  authority. 
It  was,  that  in  the  far  eternity,  two  of  the  elementary  particles 
of  matter  met  in  consultation  and  compared  intelligences ,  and 
then  called  in  a  third  Atom  to  the  council,  and,  united  in  one  will, 
they  became  the  first  power,  to  which  no  other  could  attain  as 
they  had  the  priority;  and  by  uniting  more  atoms  or  exercising 
the  power  which  the  combination  gave,  would  thenceforth  progress 
for  ever.  Under  this  union  arose  the  plenitude  of  power,  to  make 
and  enforce  a  Law  to  govern  itself  and  all  things.  Thus  was  the 
Everlasting  Gospel  constituted  the  law  of  nature.  And  out  of  this 
Intelligence,  according  to  the  Law,  a  God  was  begotten,  not  made, 
and  the  other  Gods  sprung  from  him  as  children.  By  the  law  of 
universal  order,  sex  was  made  to  exist,  coeternally  with  all  moral 
existence  and  life,  and  not  only  the  Kings,  but  the  Queens  of  hea- 
ven derive  their  origin  equally  under  its  mandates.  These  are  the 
mothers  of  our  spirits  and  the  gods,  and  of  all  spiritual  existences 
also;  each  of  which  is  confined  to  its  proper  sphere  and  in  its  own 
order :  and  these  are  called  and  sent  as  heralds  or  ministers  from 
one  planetary  system  to  another,  or  to  the  different  orbs  in  the 
same  system  of  worlds.  A  portion  of  this  order,  or  Law,  is  what 
is  called  the  everlasting  gospel  in  the  Revelation  of  St.  John, 
which  was  in  the  hand  of  the  angel  "  flying  in  the  midst  of  hea- 
ven "  to  proclaim  again  on  earth  concerning  the  Church  of  Christ; 
that  angel  was  Moroni,  who  brought  the  gospel  in  its  fulness  to 
"  Joseph  the  Seer/'  and  is  now  preached  to  men,  with  the  "  signs 
following  "  that  were  promised  to  the  Apostles  of  the  Lord. 

To  the  spirits  begotten  by  the  Father,  (for  the  mind  of  man  is 
not  created,  "  God  never  did  have  power  to  create  the  spirit  of 
man  at  all — the  very  idea  lessens  man  in  my  estimation — I  know 
better/'  Last  Sermon,  p.  62.)  a  choice  is  given,  either  to  remain 
as  they  are,  or  to  take  a  material  body  and  "descend  below  all 
5 


50  FAITH   OF   THE    MORMONS. 

things,"  in  order  to  rise  above  all  things,  whereby  they  can  obtain 
a  greater  glory  than  they  now  enjoy,  even  to  the  celestial.  This 
explains  why  we  are  here  in  this  earthly  tabernacle.  Each  spirit 
chose  to  make  "  the  probation/'  and  thus  ignoring  all  of  its  past 
existence,  is  attempting  to  work  out  a  salvation  of  immense  worth, 
and  attaining  to  perfection  in  the  attributes  of  power,  dominion, 
and  happiness. 

When  the  spirit  takes  possession  of  its  tabernacle,  which  is 
probably  at  the  quickening  of  the  embryon,  the  man  is,  or 
becomes  a  living  soul.  Man  is  therefore  a  duality.  The  elements 
of  his  composition  are  gross  matter,  called  the  body,  and  spirit. 
The  latter  is  also  matter,  but  more  refined  or  elementary,  and  so 
constituted  as  to  permeate  the  former,  control  and  vivify  it.  It 
is  not  visible  to  mortal  eyes  without  a  miracle,  nor  is  it  pondera- 
ble }  it  passes  through  the  body  as  the  electric  fluid  through  the 
earth — it  is  in  reality  more  substantial  than  the  body,  for  it  cannot 
be  changed  or  destroyed,  it  "  existed  co-equal  with  G-od,"  and 
could  have  no  beginning,  for  then  it  would  be  possible  to  have  an 
end  —  it  is  as  immortal  as  God  himself."  (Sermon,  p.  62.)  The 
union  or  fusion  of  these  makes  "  the  living  soul/'  as  related  by 
Moses  in  the  creation  of  Adam — death  separates  them  for  a  useful 
purpose,  but  then  the  Spirit  watche^  over  every  particle  of  its 
beloved  tabernacle,  until  the  fiat  of  the  resurrection  is  given,  when 
the  body  shall  again  "  be  clothed  upon/'  and  perfect  man  be  the 
result  in  an  eternal  soul. 

Death  was  introduced  into  humanity  by  the  fall  or  disobedience 
of  Adam,  who  is  the  great  patriarch,  and  is  he  whom  the 
Scripture  calls  Michael,  The  Ancient  of  Days,  with  hair  like 
wool.  But,  in  their  technical  phrase,  "  Adam  fell  that  men  might 
be/'  and  ate  the  apple  under  full  knowledge  of  the  consequences, 
and  the  "Fall"  was  a  matter  of  previous  arrangement  in  the 
economy  of  probation.  That  is,  he  fell  that  man,  or  a  mortal 
body,  might  be  born  of  woman,  and  tabernacles  fitted  up  for  the 
spirits,  as  fast  as  they  chose  to  undertake  their  probations.  And 
when  a  spirit  does  not  answer  its  true  intent  in  one  probation,  but 
forfeits  its  inheritance  by  sin  and  evil  conduct,  then  it  will  have  a 


FAITH   OF   THE   MORMONS.  51 

lower  one  assigned  it  at  death,  and  if  disobedient  still,  another, 
and  another,  until  it  shall  be  brought  to  the  proper  subjection, 
and,  yielding  to  the  gospel  law,  be  allowed  to  retrace  its  course 
back  in  the  successive  stages  to  splendor  and  angelhood. 

Thus  it  is  said  of  their  chief  Apostle,  at  present  a  president  of 
a  stake,  and  a  distinguished  writer  in  both  politics  and  their 
theology,  that  he  fell  into  doubt  as  to  the  truth  of  the  system, 
and  contemplated  apostacy.  He  was  saved  by  the  ministry  of 
angels.  A  heavenly  messenger  appeared  before  him  and  warned 
him  of  the  danger,  and  then  pronounced  upon  him  the  doom  of 
being  soon  obliged  to  take  a  negro  tabernacle,  unless  he  should 
repent  and  become  zealous  for  the  faith  delivered  to  the  Latter- 
Day  Saints.  This  was  effectual  in  frightening  him  back  to  duty, 
for  they  hold  the  "  Negro  is  cursed  as  to  the  priesthood,  and  must 
always  be  a  servant  wherever  his  lot  is  cast,  and  therefore  shall 
never  attain  to  anything  above  a  dim  shining  glory.  This  part 
of  the  human  race  is  the  lowest  grade.  A  first  descending 
probation  would  be  that  of  the  Indian  —  for  the  red  men  have 
been  cursed  only  as  to  color  and  indolent  habits;  and  through 
repentance  and  obedience,  and  acceptance  of  the  newly  proclaimed 
gospel,  they  can  be  restored  to  pristine  rights  and  beauty,  and 
become  again  "a  fair  and  delightsome  people,"  worthy  of  their 
origin  from  the  Jews  of  Palestine.  When  these  grades  have 
not  been  effectual  in  subduing  the  rebellious  spirit,  a  third  one 
would  be  assigned  into  the  brute  species,  and  a  choice  taken  among 
them;  and  when  we  are  tormented  by  a  refractory  horse  or 
obstinate  ass,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  reflect  that  they  are  actuated 
by  an  apostate  soul,  and  exemplifying  a  few  of  the  *  human 
infirmities."  However,  it  is  not  our  purpose  here  to  draw 
inferences  or  reconcile  any  contradictions  which  may  appear  in 
the  Mormon  teaching. 

Man,  in  the  usual  acceptation,  is  a  compound  being,  with  a 
physical,  intellectual,  and  spiritual  nature — but  in  the  view  taken 
above,  he  is  a  duality  of  elements.  The  intellectual  is  absorbed 
into  either  of  the  others,  according  to  convenience,  though  usually 
confounded  with  the  spiritual ;  and  the  chain  of  reasoning  termi- 
nates in  exalting  the  physical  nature  above  the  other  two. 


CHAPTER  Y. 

SAME  SUBJECT— MASONRY—HIEROGLYPHICS. 

OF  the  introduction  of  sin,  and  rise  and  progress  of  Satan,  we 
have  heard  this  account  given  and  "proved  by  their  scriptures/' 

After  Adam  had  fallen  from  his  first  estate,  a  council  was  held 
in  Heaven,  and  all  the  members  were  present.  Among  them  was 
He  who  is  emphatically  called  The  Son,  and  likewise  Lucifer,  the 
elder  brother,  the  Son  of  the  Morning,  the  bright  star  in  glory, 
and  leader  of  heavenly  hosts.  The  proposition  was  laid  before 
the  council  "  how  man  should  be  saved  or  redeemed  from  the  state 
of  evil" — and  each  one  called  upon  to  give  his  method  of  salva- 
tion. When  Lucifer  was  appealed  to,  he  declared  that  "he  would 
save  him  in  his  sins'7 — but  Christ  answered,  "I  will  save  him 
from  his  sins." 

The  latter  was  deemed  the  true  way  by  the  Father,  and 
accepted;  whereupon  the  Son  of  the  Morning  took  offence  and 
rebelled,  with  the  legions  he  managed  to  corrupt,  and  was  there- 
fore cast  out  of  the  planetary  abode  of  the  Father,  and  became 
the  great  leader  of  evil  spirits,  under  the  name  of  Satan  —  but  he 
brought  with  him  many  of  the  noble  qualities  he  ever  possessed ; 
is  still  Milton's  "  Archangel  ruined  and  a  perfect  gentleman." 

All  the  meaner  temptations  and  evil  arts  are  practised  only  by 
the  baser  sort  of  imps,  hence  some  people  are  very  uncharitable  in 
charging  all  blame  upon  the  "head  devil,"  as  they  often  call  him. 

The  idea  they  entertain  of  the  personal  agency  of  this  "fine 
gentleman,"  may  be  gathered  from  the  anecdotes  rife  among  them 
of  his  doings  with  Sidney  Rigdon,  who,  from  being  the  next  in 
rank  to  the  prophet  Joseph,  apostatised,  through  the  love  of  good 
cheer,  and  ambition  to  be  head.  He  had  received  a  great  many 
visits  from  his  angel,  as  he  supposed,  and  many  revelations  —  but 

(52) 


I 

FAITH   OF   THE    MORMONS.  53 

one  night  while  asleep,  he  was  aroused  by  so  mighty  a  shake,  that 
he  was  made  aware  that  no  ordinary  hand  was  upon  him.  Indeed, 
his  satanic  majesty  was  fully  confessed,  for  he  proceeded  to  tilt  up 
the  bed  and  handle  Sidney  most  roughly ;  and  then,  taking  him 
by  the  legs,  trundled  him  down  the  stairs  as  one  would  drag  a 
wheelbarrow  behind  him,  without  mercy  upon  the  grey  head  as  it 
thumped  every  step;  and,  finally,  landing  the  sufferer  in  the  street, 
disappeared  "  like  smoke."  This  treatment  was  repeated  several 
1  times,  but  'twere  of  no  use  to  suggest  that  some  human  agency, 
in  the  shape  of  a  lusty  Mormon,  had  a  hand  in  the  work  —  for 
they  took  the  precaution  to  inquire  the  color  of  the  hair,  the  cast 
of  countenance,  and  other  unmistakeable  marks,  by  which  Joseph 
had  taught  them  to  detect  the  real  Beelzebub,  whenever  he 
appeared  as  an  angel  of  light,  or  in  propria  persona. 

TONGUES. 

This  is  not  the  ancient  gift,  whereby  one  addressing  a  people 
speaking  a  different  language  from  himself,  was  enabled  to  talk  in 
their  own  words.  It  is,  that  persons  among  themselves,  in  their 
enthusiastic  meetings,  shall  be  "  moved  by  the  spirit"  to  utter  any 
set  of  sounds  in  imitation  of  words,  and,  it  may  be,  words  belong- 
ing to  some  Indian  or  other  language.  The  speaker  is  to  know 
nothing  of  the  ideas  expressed,  but  another,  with  the  "gift  of 
interpretation  of  tongues/ '  can  explain  to  the  astonished  audience 
all  that  has  been  said.  Any  sounds,  of  course  then  are  a  language 
known  to  the  Lord.  If  one  feels  a  desire  to  speak,  and  has 
difficulty  to  bring  forth  the  thoughts  of  his  heart,  or  what  the 
spirit  is  about  to  reveal  through  him,  he  must  (t  rise  on  his  feet, 
lean  in  faith  ton  Christ,  and  open  his  lips,  utter  a  song  in  such 
cadence  as  he  chooses,  and  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  will  give  an 
interpreter,  and  snake  it  a  language." 

THE    RESURRECTION. 

Their   peculiar  notions  of  this  cannot  be  appreciated  without 
knowing  their  views  of  the  Restoration,  or  restitution  of  all  things 
5* 


64  FAITH    OF   THE    MORMONS. 

spoken  of  by  Isaiah.  When  God  created  the  living  earth,  he 
gave  the  command  that  the  waters  gather  to  one  place,  and  the 
dry  land  appear ;  and  hence  it  is  inferred  that  "  there  was  one 
vast  ocean,  rolling  around  one  immense  body  of  land,  unbroken 
as  to  continents  and  islands;  it  was  one  beautiful  plain,,  inter- 
spersed with  gently  rising  hills  and  sloping  vales;  its  climate 
delightfully  varied  with  heat  and  cold,  wet  and  dry,  crowning  the 
year  with  productions  grateful  to  men  and  animals;  " while  from 
the  flowery  plain  or  spicy  grove  sweet  odors  were  wafted  on  every 
breeze,  and  all  the  vast  creation  of  animated  being  breathed 
naught  but  health,  peace,  and  joy.r;*  Over  this  creation,  residing 
in  a  well-watered  and  delicious  garden,  "  Man  reigned,  and  talked 
face  to  face  with  the  Supreme,  with  only  a  dimming  veil  between." 

But  Adam  fell,  and  the  earth  partook  of  the  curse  that 
followed,  and  in  pain  and  sorrow  sympathised  with  the  disobedient 
pair,  under  its  load  of  thorns  and  thistles  —  and  sin  accumulated 
its  guilty  deeds  in  the  actions  of  men,  until  the  Lord  comes  out 
in  vengeance  and  cleanses  all  by  water.  After  the  Noachian 
deluge,  in  the  days  of  Peleg,  "the  earth  was  divided."  Not. among 
families  was  the  surface  distributed — but  a  mighty  revolution  that 
brought  the  sea  from  its  place  in  the  north,  to  interpose  between 
portions  of  the  land  rent  asunder;  and  earthquakes  and  commo- 
tions have  since  separated  it  into  islands  and  fragments. 

The  American  continent,  as  the  Book  of  Mormon  informs,  was 
shaken  to  its  foundation  at  the  time  of  the  crucifixion;  and 
cities,  towns,  mountains,  and  lakes,  buried  and  formed  when  "the 
earth  writhed  in  the  convulsive  throes  of  agonizing  nature." 

Men  have  degenerated  since  then  as  well  as  the  earth ;  —  the 
ancients  were  worthy  to  converse  with  the  Lord  and  angels,  and 
lessons  given  "  to  enlarge  the  heart  and  expand  the  soul  to  its  ut- 
most capacity" — far  above  the  smattering  of  the  present  worldly 
wisdom. 

But  the  restoration  of  all  things  is  at  hand ;  for  "  he  shall  send 
Jesus  Christ,  whom  the  heavens  must  receive,  until  the  times  of 

*  Voice  of  Warning. 


OF   THE    MORMONS.  55 

restitution  of  all  things" — and  "the  voice  of  one  crying  in  the 
wilderness  —  Every  valley  shall  be  exalted  and  every  hill  be  made 
low, —  and  mighty  revolutions  shall  begin  to  restore  the  face  of 
the  earth  to  its  former  beauty."  (See  Voice  of  Warning.) 

In  Rev.  vi.  we  find,  "  every  island  and  mountain  were  moved 
out  of  their  places ;"  in  Isaiah,  that  "the  earth  shall  move  out 
of  her  place  and  be  like  a  chased  roe  " — but  after  that,  "thou 
shalt  no  more  be  termed  forsaken,  neither  shalt  thy  land  any 
more  be  termed  desolate ;  but  thou  shalt  be  called  Hepzibah, 
and  thy  land  Beulah ;  for  the  Lord  delighteth  in  thee  and  thy  land 
shall  be  married."  And  from  the  whole  and  varied  scriptures,  we 
learn  that  the  continents  and  islands  shall  be  united  in  one,  as 
they  were  in  the  morn  of  creation,  and  the  sea  shall  retire  and 
assemble  in  its  own  place  as  before ;  and  all  these  scenes  shall  take 
place,  about  the  time  of  the  coming  of  the  Lord/'  The  earth 
restored,  and  the  inhabitants  purified,  both  man  and  beast,  so  that 
they  hurt  not,  nor  destroy  —  and  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord  cover- 
ing the  earth,  as  the  waters  the  sea,"  then  comes  the  first  resurrec- 
tion of  the  body,  to  reign  on  this  delightful  paradise  with  the 
Savior  a  thousand  years. 

The  peculiarity  of  this  resurrection  consists  in  this ;  the  body 
is  the  same  as  before,  "  except  the  blood."  That  will  be  left  out. 
The  Apostle  Pratt  (from  whom  we  have  been  quoting,)  says  that 
Jesus  was  the  exact  pattern  of  our  resurrection.  "And  Jesus 
Christ  came  forth  triumphant  from  the  mansions  of  the  dead,  pos- 
sessing the  same  body  which  had  been  born  of  a  woman,  which 
was  crucified ;  but  no  blood  flowed  in  his  veins ;  for  blood  was  the 
natural  life  in  which  were  the  principles  of  mortality;  and  a  man 
restored  to  flesh  and  blood  would  be  mortal,  which  was  not  the 
ca'se .  with  our  Savior : "  and  he  was  substantial,  for  he  told  his 
disciples  to  handle  him,  and  know  that  he  had  "flesh  and  bones  ;" 
which  will  be  the  constitution  of  all  resurrected  bodies. 

All  the  seed  of  Israel  are-  to  be  raised  from  the  dead,  and 
brought  to  the  land  of  Judea ;  the  saints  of  other  peoples,  gather- 
ed to  the  fair  American  division ;  and  the  Zion  by  one,  and  New 


56  '     FAITH   OF   THE    MORMONS. 

Jerusalem  by  the  other  saints,  will  be  built  with  fine  stones,  and 
the  beauty  of  all  precious  things. 

One  more  change  only,  will  be  necessary  to  fit  the  earth  for 
man's  eternal  inheritance,  which  will  take  place  at  the  end  of  the 
thousand  years,  the  great  Sabbath  of  rest  and  enjoyment.  The 
earth  will  be  celestialized  through  the  baptism  of  fire  —  the  two 
cities  will  be  caught  up,  literally,  into  heaven,  to  descend  with  the 
Lord  God  for  its  light  and  its  temple,  and  remain  for  ever  on  the 
"  new  earth  ".  under  the  bright  canopy  of  the  new  heavens." 

PROPHECIES  AND  PROPHETIC  TIMES. 

There  is  something  ingenious,  as  well  as  fanciful,  in  the  method 
of  determining  prophetic  time.  For  want  of  the  true  key,  the 
commentators  have  hitherto  failed  in  their  interpretations  of  days 
and  years,  and  the  time  for  the  fulfilment  of  foretold  events. 

Now  God,  our  Father,  dwells  on  his  .planet  (Kolob)  and  mea- 
sures time  by  its  revolutions ;  one  of  those  revolutions  begins  and 
terminates  a  day,  which  is  equal  to  one  thousand  of  our  years; 
,  the  authority  for  which  will  readily  occur  Jio  any  Sabbath-school 
scholar  or  scripture  reader. 

Being  finite,  he  employs  agents  to  bring  and  communicate  infor- 
mation through  his  worlds;  and  all  the  material  agents  of  light, 
electricity,  and  sound,  or  attributes,  are  employed  in  this  thing. 
When  an  angel  is  commissioned  a  messenger  to  earth,  he  is  taken 
from  the  chief  planet  perhaps,  or  quite  as  likely,  from  some  other 
that  circles  around  it.  But  an  angel  in  speaking  of  the  time  of 
events,  would  of  course  speak  of  the  days  and  years,  or  weeks, 
that  are  measured  by  the  revolution  of  his  own  abode. 

These  angels  are  sent  to  the  Seer  to  communicate  what  pertains 
to  the  interest  or  the  government  of  the  church,  or  the  orders  for 
individuals  to  act  under  the  direction  of  the  Seer,  as  missionaries 
or  otherwise.  These  communications  are  registered,  to  be  pro- 
mulgated at  the  proper  moment,  according  as  the  members  can 
bear  them,  for  many  "would  be  offended  and  turn  back"  if  the 
whole  truth  was  "  dashed  down  in  a  mass  before  them." 


FAITH   OF   THE    MORMONS.  57 

Individuals  receive  revelations  regarding  their  own  matters,  on 
proper  subjects ;  these  are  to  be  obtained  "  by  prayer  in  mighty 
faith/'  but  only  when  natural  sagacity,  improved  by  diligence  and 
study,  would  fail  to  suggest  the  desired  information,  or  point  out 
the  required  course  of  action ;  —  where  God  has  appointed  means, 
he  will  not  work  by  miracles. 

At  baptism  the  true  believer  may  ask  in  faith  for  some 
particular  "spirit,"  as,  for  instance,  the  spirit  whereby  one  can 
perceive  between  true  and  false  doctrines ;  and  intuitively  divine 
it  when  propounded  by  those  who  have  the  authority  to  speak, 
yet  may  have  become  darkened  through  unbelief  or  evil  practice, 
or  brought  to  them  by  "the  false  and  seducing  spirits,"  which  are 
to  abound  in  the  last  days,  and  such  a  spirit  will  be  given  them  to 
guide  and  direct. 

These  attendant  angels,  however,  cannot  prevent  the  approach 
and  insinuations  of  evil  spirits,  and  thus  the  two  kinds  are  on  the 
right  hand  and  on  the  left — which  accounts  for  the  crooked  paths 
some  pretty  good  men  among  them  often  mark  out. 

PRIESTHOOD. 

It  is  stoutly  maintained  that  the  priesthood  is  necessary  to  the 
being,  as  well  as  the  perfection  of  a  church;  and  so  long  as  the 
Aaronic  branch  is  not  exercised  by  the  tribe  of  Levi  through 
unbelief,  their  Melchisedek  order  being  the  greater,  have  the  right 
to  officiate  in  the  lesser  offices,  and  will  do  so  when  the  proper 
temple  is  built ;  that  is,  in  the  animal  sacrifices  for  daily  sins  of 
the  people.  The  priestly  order  receives  tithes  of  all  one  possesses 
on  entering  the  church;  and  the  members  pay  a  tenth  of  all 
income,  and  devote  a  tenth  part  of  their  time  to  the  temple  and 
other  public  works,  ever  after. 

The  bishops  have  charge  of  the  tithe  labor,  and  receive  the 
contributions  (or  a  commutation  for  labor  and  produce,)  and  put 
the  proceeds  of  industry  in  the  public  store-houses ;  in  fine,  this 
order  of  priests  have  charge  of  the  temporal  matters  under  the 
direction  of  the  Presidency. 


58  ORDERS    OF    PRIESTS. 

The  Hierarchy  of  the  Mormon  Church  has  many  grades  of 
offices  and  gifts.  The  first  is  the  Presidency  of  three  persons, 
which,  we  were  led  to  understand,  answered  or  corresponded  to 
the  Trinity  in  Heaven,  but  more  particularly  to  Peter,  James,  and 
John,  the  first  presidents  of  the  gospel  church. 

Next  in  order  is  the  travelling  High  Apostolic  College  of  twelve 
apostles,  after  the  primitive  church  model,  who  have  the  right  to 
preside  over  the  stakes  in  any  foreign  country,  according  to 
seniority ;  then  the  high-priests — priests,  elders,  bishops,  teachers, 
and  deacons  —  together  with  evangelists  or  missionaries  of  the 
"  three  seventies."  Each  order  constitutes  a  full  quorum  for  the 
discipline  of  its  members,  and  transacting  business  belonging  to 
its  action ;  but  appeals  lie  to  higher  orders,  and  the  whole  church 
is  the  final  appellate  court  assembled  in  general  council. 

Their  Prophets  arise  out  of  every  grade,  and  a  Patriarch' 
resides  at  head  quarters  to  bless  particular  members,  after  the 
manner  of  Jacob  and  his  sons,  and  that  of  Israel  towards  Esau 
and  his  brother. 

A  High  Council  is  selected  out  of  the  high-priests,  and  consists 
of  twelve  members,  which  is  in  perpetual  session  to  advise  the 
Presidency;  in  which  each  is  free  to  give  and  argue  his  opinion. 
The  President  sums  up  the  matter  and  gives  the  decision,  perhaps 
in  opposition  to  a  great  majority,  but  to  which  all  must  yield 
implicit  obedience;  and  probably  there  has  never  been  known, 
under  the  present  head,  a  dissent  when  the  "awful  nod"  has  been 
given,  for  it  is  the  "stamp  of  fate  and  sanction  of  a  god." 

This  council  is  eye,  ear,  and  hand  to  the  President  —  the 
members  are  the  spies  over  all  matters  in  the  field  or  the  temple, 
•  in  the  social  party  or  the  domestic  circle.  Is  any  novel  opinion 
broached  in  conversation,  it  is  brought  before  the  council  by  any 
member  cognizant  of,  or  who  has  heard  of  it,  and  measures  are 
taken  to  ferret  it  out,  that  the  man  who  uttered  it,  if  he  is  not 
Bound  to  the  core,  may  be  marked  and  pounced  upon  before  he  is 
even  aware  that  he  is  suspected.  No  wonder  that  many  among 
them,  who  are  not  well  advised  of  the  means  of  acquiring  the 
knowledge,  wonder  that  Brigham  is  so  well  "posted  up"  in  what 


PRIESTHOOD    AND    MASONRY.  59 

relates  to  the  private  history  of  the  numerous  persons  around 
him. 

In  the  early  arrangement  of  the  affairs  of  the  Mormon  church, 
and  when  they  were  accused  of  raising  up  a  society  and  people  to 
be  governed  independent  of  the  state  —  there  was  inserted  in  the 
Book  of  Covenants,  the  following  item  of  belief:  "We  do  not 
believe  it  just  to  mingle  religious  influence  with  civil  government, 
whereby  one  religious  society  is  fostered,  and  another  proscribed 
in  its  spiritual  privileges,  and  the  individual  rights  of  its  members, 
as  citizens,  denied. " 

Yet  it  is  taught  that  the  priesthood  is  supreme  in  the  state  — 
not  in  the  sense  that  all  human  law  springs  from^the  standard  of 
right  and  wrong  contained  in  the  revealed  word  of  God,  but  that 
this  order  has  the  control  of  the  state,  and  ought  to  make  the  civil 
regulations,  because  it  receives  revelations  from  day  to  day,  and 
can  therefore  keep  both  the  temporal  and  spiritual  from  clashing, 
and  fulfil  the  scripture  that  "the  officers  shall  be  peace  and 
exactors  righteousness."  And  in  the  selection  of  officers  by 
ballot,  the  elective  franchise  is  made  subservient  to  a  vote  for  the 
nominee  of  the  Presidency. 

It  was  related  to  us  in  conversation  that  a  delegate  was  chosen 
and  commissioned  for  Congress,  at  a  time  when  it  was  desirable 
that  he  should  start  suddenly  for  the  seat  of  government;  and 
that  the  people  were  summoned  to  vote  when  he  was  far  on  the 
way  to  the  states  —  his  credentials  either  in  his  pocket,  or  sent  to 
him  by  mail  afterward. 

They  gloried  in  this  conge  d'elire,  and  it  was  averred  by  promi- 
nent men  that  to  vote  against  any  one  proposed  by  the  highest 
authority  would  be  the  height  of  folly.  For  the  council  knew 
what  was  wanted  to  be  done,  and  of  course  what  persons  were  the 
most  suitable  to  accomplish  the  work. 

But  to  return  to  the  subject  of  the  priesthood ;  we  are  informed 

they  have  working  signs,  and  that  Masonry  was  originally  of  the 

•  church,  and  one  of  its  favored  institutions,  to  advance  the  members 

in  their  spiritual   functions.     It  had  become  perverted  from  its 

designs,  and  was  restored  to  its  true  work  by  Joseph,  who  gave 


60  FAITH    OF   THE    MORMONS. 

again,  by  angelic  assistance,  the  key-words  of  the  several  degrees 
that  had  been  lost ;  and  when  he  entered  the  lodges  of  Illinois,  he 
could  work  right  ahead  of  the  most  promoted ;  for  which,  through 
envy,  the  Nauvoo  lodge  was  excommunicated,  or  cut  off  by  the 
Grand  Lodge,  on  account  of  its  own  ignorance  of  the  greatest 
truths  and  benefits  of  Masonry. 

The  priesthood  having  the  different  degrees,  preferment  in  them 
depends  on  the  faithfulness  of  the  aspirant,  as  judged  by  those 
already  promoted,  and  one  of  the  merits  is  the  paying  up  of  all 
tithe  dues.  Any  one  in  arrears  on  this,  will  find  himself  blocked 
materially  when  the  proper  buildings  for  "working"  are  con- 
structed. Diligence  and  obedience  are  thus  held  out  as  things  to 
ensure  a  reward  in  knowledge  and  promotions. 

Until  the  great  temple  is  built,  much  has  to  be  left  undone  — 
that  structure  has  to  be  arranged  with  regard  to  this  and  other 
institutions  of  the  priestly  orders;  and  the  wants  of  the  church 
at  the  time  will  determine  the  manner,  which  will  be  given  by 
direct  revelation. 

There  will  be  bathing  apartments  distinct  for  the  priests  and 
priestesses,  for  the  women  are  to  have  a  part  of  this  office,  and  are 
admitted  to  certain  degrees  in  Masonry  as  a  consequence.  Par- 
ticular ablutions  are  to  be  attended  to,  before  appearing  to  officiate 
at  the  altars,  and  many  observances  in  the  manner  of  offering 
worship  and  praise,  and  performing  symbolical  rites,  will  have  the 
conveniences  fitted  up  for  them  and  diligently  kept  in  practice. 

And  we  may  close  this  notice  of  "peculiar  doctrines"  and 
special  teachings,  by  a  reference  to  their  assertions,  that  revelations 
of  God's  will  in  His  moral  teachings,  have  been  made  at  various 
times  to  all  nations ;  and,  through  tradition,  the  truth  has  been 
transmitted  down,  so  that  there  is  no  people,  even  the  heathen, 
who  have  not  some  correct  doctrines  and  moral  notions.  Therefore 
we  are  not  to  be  surprised  to  find  that  they  have  points  in  common 
with  every  belief  under  heaven,  for  being  guided  by  the  spirit  into 
all  truth,  they  have  sifted  it  out  from  the  mass  of  error  that 
obscures  it ;  and  whatever  has  been  vouchsafed  to  man,  may  be 
considered  in  their  possession. 


FAITH   OF   THE    MORMONS.  61 

On  this  account  they  claim  an  advantage  over  all  proselytes  of 
other  creeds,  in  being  able  to  commence  with  what  is  agreeable  to 
both  parties,  and  then  extend  gradually  the  teaching  upon  other 
matters,  from  the  least  objectionable  topics  up  to  those  fully 
opposed  to  previous  ideas  and  habits.  Thus,  with  the  Eastern 
nations  and  South  Sea  Islanders,  they  are  not  called  upon  to 
renounce  all  but  one  partner ;  the  animal  sacrificer  will  be  told 
he  can  retain  that  practice;  and  so  on  to  the  end  of  the  chapter. 


SOURCES   OF   DOCTRINES. 
•  » 

The  ecclesiastical  student  will  not  fail  to  remark  that  Mormon- 
ism  is  an  eclectic  -religious  philosophy,  drawn  from  Brahmin 
mysticism  in  the  dependence  of  God,  the  Platonic  and  Gnostic 
notion  of  Eons,  or  a  moving  principle  in  element;  Mahomedan 
sensualism,  and  the  fanaticism  of  the  sects  of  the  early  church ; 
and  there  is  the  good  and  evil  of  Ahrimaism,  with  the  convenient 
idea  of  the  transmigration  of  souls,  from  the  Persian. 

Nor  has  its  founder  altogether  confined  his  attention  to  the 
ancient  Christian  theories  or  pagan  superstitions;  and  his  followers 
have  fallen  in  with  the  spiritual  philosophy  of  the  day,  and  added 
the  doctrine  of  affinities  of  minds  and  the  sympathy  of  souls — he 
has  told  us  that  the  spirits  of  the  departed  dead  are  angels  that 
return  and  converse  with  those  who  are  congenial  to  them,  or  they 
have  the  privilege,  on  account  of  their  purity,  to  receive  commu- 
nications from  ghostly  realms  —  and,  taking  the  antithesis  of  the 
dicta,  that  God  is  perfect  man,  he  makes  every  perfect  man  a  god 
—  and  by  tracing  the  parallel  at  our  leisure,  we  may  discover  that 
the  speculations*  of  modern  times  have  here  been  more  or  less 
modified  and  adopted,  those  reveries  of  ingenious  but  morbid 
imaginations,  given  to  the  speculative  world  in  mellifluous  lan- 
guage, and  sensuous,  captivating  descriptions  of  enjoyments  in  the 
existence  that  succeeds  to  this,  of,  too  frequently,  self-made  misery. 

Between  the  school  of  mental  delight,  and  the  school  of  the 
Mormon,  there  is  this  difference ;  the  latter  acts  now  upon  his 
theories,  and  materializes  them  to  present  use,  while  the  former 
6 


62  FAITH    OF    THE    MORMONS. 

revels  alone  in  intellectual  sensuality,  putting  off  to  the  future  the 
feast  of  the  palate,  the  charms  for  the  eye,  or  absorption  in  the 
delights  of  affianced  love  —  we  leave  both  to  reconcile  the  differ- 
ences between  themselves  and  the  school  of  moral  obedience  and 
true  revelation.  By  sensuality  used  in  this  connection,  we  mean 
that  application  of  the  senses  in  a  lawful  manner  for  procuring 
desiderated  enjoyment,  which  education  and  conscience  allows  to 
those  of  any  adopted  creed. 

In  Mormonism  we  recognise  an  intuition  of  Transcendentalism 
—  intuitive,  we  say,  for  its  founder  was  no  scholar  in  the  idealistic 
philosophy.  He  trampled  under  foot  creeds  and  formulas,  and 
soared  away  for  perpetual  inspiration  from  the  good ;  and  by  the 
will,  which  he  calls  faith,  he  won  the  realms  of  truth,  beauty, 
and  happiness.  Such  things  can  only  be  safely  confided  to  the 
strong  and  pure-minded,  and  even  they  must  isolate  themselves  in 
self-idolatry,  and  be  "alone  with  the  alone,"  and  seek  converse 
with  the  spirit  of  man's  spirit. 

But  this  prophet  was  educated  by  passion,  and  sought  to  be 
social  with  the  weak;  he  therefore  baptized  spirituality  in  the 
waters  of  materialism.  Instead  of  evolving  the  godlike  nature 
of  the  human  spirit,  he  endeavored  to  prove  that  humanity  was 
already  divinity,  by  investing  Deity  with  what  is  manlike.  Men 
were  to  be  like  gods  by  making  gods  men. 

Various  coincidences  have  occurred,  which  strikingly  keep  alive 
in  the  mountain  brethren  their  idea  of  being  the  chosen  of  the 
Lord  —  and  confirm  them  in  the  belief  of  the  inspiration  of  the 
Book  of  Mormon.  Among  other  things  are  the  marks  and 
hieroglyphical  characters  found  engraved  on  the  precipitous  cliffs 
of  southern  Utah,  which  are  faintly  imitated*  by  the  present 
Indians.  Those  who  were  associated  with  Joseph  as  amanuenses 
pretend  to  have  acquired  sufficient  knowledge  of  similar  things 
to  be  enabled  to  decipher  their  signification,  and  have  translated 
enough  to  confirm,  in  the  most  wonderful  manner,  the  Nephite 
records. 

The  following  is  a  specimen  taken  from  the  cliff  in  Sam  Pete 
valley,  at  the  city  of  Manti. 


HIEROGLYPHICS. 


63 


Translation  by  one  of  the  Regents ;  "  I  Mahanti,  the  2nd  King 
of  the  Lamanites,  in  five  valleys  in  the  mountains,  make  this  record 
in  the  12  hundredth  year  since  we  came  out  of  Jerusalem  —  And 
I  have  three  sons  gone  to  the  South  country  to  live  by  hunting 
antelope  and  deer." 

Another  specimen  is  taken  from  those  in  little  Salt  Lake  Val- 
ley :  they  are  reduced  from  three  feet  figures,  preserving  propor- 
tions. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

SOCIAL  CONDITION  OF  fHE  MORMONS. 

IT  may  be  reasonably  expected  that  we  should  make  some 
reference  to  the  practical  workings  of  this  stupendous  and  com- 
plicated system  on  the  present  theatre  of  its  application,  in  regard 
to  their  dealings  with  strangers  and  the  state  of  morals  among 
themselves. 

During  the  sojourn  of  the  party  sent  by  the  government  to  sur- 
vey the  region  around  the  Great  Lake,  and  ascertain  its  commercial 
and  agricultural  capabilities,  the  greatest  kindness  was  shown  to 
the  members  individually,  and  facilities  given  to  prosecute  the 
work.  This  was  done,  however,  after  it  was  ascertained  that  the 
advantages  of  the  exploration  would  accrue  to  themselves,  and 
that  it  was  not  for  the  purpose  of  seizing  their  lands,  to  bring 
them  into  market  —  the  "let  severely  alone"  policy  was  to  have 
been  adopted,  if  the  character  of  the  work  had  been  to  annoy 
them,  which  would  have  effectually  paralyzed  the  operations. 

A  report  that  military  men  were  coming  to  superintend  a  sur- 
vey of  their  lands  for  the  market,  and  interfere  with  their  occu- 
pancy, had  preceded  the  party.  This  occasioned  it  to  bo  received 
with  coldness,  and  among  the  more  ignorant  the  prejudice  was 
scarcely  removed  for  the  whole  year.  So  that  any  interference 
with  the  triangulation  stations,  which  was  seldom,  or  any  evasive 
answers  to  questions,  were  to  be  set  down  to  ignorance  more  than 
to  malice,  and  it  is  probable  such  a  work  could  not  have  been  con- 
ducted any  where  else  with  so  little  annoyance. 

A  large  branch  of  the  great  emigration  overland  to  California 
passed  through  the  Mormon  settlements,  which  is  the  best  route 
across  the  country. 


MORMON    DEALING   WITH   EMIGRANTS.  65 

Of  the  parties  organized  in  the  States  to  cross  the  plains,  there 
was  hardly  one  that  did  not  break  into  several  fragments,  and  the 
division  of  property  caused  a  great  deal  of  difficulty.  Many  of 
these  litigants  applied  to  the  courts  of  Deseret  for  redress  of  griev- 
ances, and  there  was  every  appearance  of  impartiality  and  strict 
justice  done  to  all  parties.  Of  course,  there  would  be  dissatisfac- 
tion when  the  right  was  declared  to  belong  to  one  side  alone  ;  and 
the  losers  circulated  letters  far  and  near,  of  the  oppression  of 
the  Mormons.  These  would  sometimes  rebel  against  the  equity 
decisions,  and  then  they  were  made  to  feel  the  full  majesty  of  the 
civil  power.  For  contempt  of  court  they  were  most  severely  fined, 
and  in  the  end  found  it  a  losing  game  to  indulge  in  vituperation 
of  the  court,  or  make  remarks  derogatory  to  the  high  functionaries. 

Again,  the  fields  in  the  valley  are  imperfectly  fenced,  and  the 
emigrants'  cattle  often  trespassed  upon  the  crops.  For  this,  a  good 
remuneration  was  demanded,  and  the  value  being  so  enormously 
greater  than  in  the  States,  it  looked  to  the  stranger  as  an  imposition 
and  injustice  to  ask  so  large  a  price.  A  protest  would  usually  be 
made,  the  case  then  taken  before  the  bishop,  and  the  costs  be 
added  to  the  original  demand.  Such  as  these,  were  the  instances 
of  terrible  oppression,  that  have  been  industriously  circulated  as 
unjust  acts  of  heartless  Mormons,  upon  the  gold  emigration. 

But  provisions  were  sold  at  very  reasonable  prices,  and  their 
many  deeds  of  charity  to  the  sick  and  broken-down  gold-seekers, 
all  speak  loudly  in  their  favor,  and  must  eventually  redound  to 
their  praise.*  Such  kindness,  and  apparently  brotherly  good-will 
among  themselves,  had  its  effect  in  converting  more  than  one  to 
their  faith,  and  the  proselytes  deserted  the  search  for  golden  ore, 
supposing  they  found  there  pearls  of  greater  price. 

Could  the  history  of  the  overland  emigrants,  for  the  first  two 
seasons  after  it  commenced,  be  obtained  and  written,  it  would 
give  us  a  volume  of  surpassing  interest.  Men  thrown  together 
and  dependent  on  each  other,  would  feel  that  very  necessity  of 
harmony  an  intolerable  burthen,  and  selfishness,  heartless  and 
cruel,  was  developed  to  a  frightful  extent.  There  were  instances 


66  CHARACTER  OF  THE  MORMONS. 

of  nobleness  and  good  feeling,  but  the  great  mass  of  testimony 
goes  to  show  much  of  the  contrary. 

There  were  many  curious  exercises  of  the  feelings,  and  novel 
ways  of  proceeding.  One  sturdy  German  had  well-nigh  immor- 
talized himself  under. the  name  of  the  "wheelbarrow  man."  His 
all  was  thus  packed,  and  he  trundled  his  wheelbarrow  along  as 
rapidly  as  the  teams  advanced,  and  had  the  prospect  of  reaching 
the  end  of  his  two  thousand  miles  in  safety.  But  alas !  for  the 
chances  of  human  ambition  —  the  Weber  Elver  in  the  mountains 
was  swollen  by  the  melting  snows,  and  he  was  forced  to  cross  on 
the  raft  with  teams  —  the  raft  foundered  in  the  swift  current,  and 
the  wheelbarrow,  with  "his  all,"  was  swept  down  into  the  boiling 
kanyon  below,  and  lost  beyond  redemption. 

Resuming  our  theme,  we  may  say  that  there  were  acts  of 
individual  churlishness,  shown  in  the  mountains,  that  call  for 
reprobation,  but  they  should  not  be  charged  upon  the  community ; 
and,  still  more,  it  should  not  be  thought  that  such  actions  were 
sanctioned  by  the  chiefs  of  the  people. 

The  homogeneousness  of  this  sect  consists  in  their  obedience  to 
counsel;  but  as  the  great  majority  is  of  course  made  up,  like 
other  communities,  of  all  sorts  of  dispositions,  they  vary  in  habits 
and  thinking  according  to  individual  character. 

Thus  they  allow  that  mistakes  have  been  made  by  individuals 
in  carrying  out  their  doctrines ;  for  instance,  many  have  supposed 
that  the  time  was  come  when  they  should  take  possession  of  the 
property  of  the  Gentiles,  and  that  it  would  be  no  theft  to  secure 
cattle  and  grain  from  neighboring  pastures  and  fields,  thus 
"spoiling  the  Egyptians,"  and  we  are  told  by  themselves  that 
such  conduct  had  to  be  forbidden  from  the  public  desk.  This 
instance  of  wrong  application  of  the  dogma  that  they  are  "the 
stewards  of  the  Lord,  and  the  inheritance  of  the  earth  belongs  to 
the  saints,"  shows  that  some  foundation  exists 'for  the  charges 
against  them,  on  the  score  of  insecurity  of  property  in  Illinois  and 
Missouri  —  and  that  abuses  can  easily  arise  from  their  principles, 
when  residing  near  people  of  other  religious  views. 

There  is  a  casuistic  view  taken  of  the  right  to  make  a  distinc- 


POLYGAMY   AMONG   THE   MORMONS.  67 

tion  between  what  is  publicly  proclaimed  by  the  Seer,  or  under  his 
approbation  from  the  desk,  and  what  may  be  called  floating 
opinion,  and  practice  also,  arising  from  his  private  promulgations 
to  certain  members.  On  this  they  say  that  it  is  proper  to  deny 
certain  things  to  exist  as  doctrine,  which  may  be  quite  universally 
held  and  acted  upon  among  them,  because  it  has  not  been  publicly 
proclaimed — and  also  to  deny  any  thing  offensive  to  the  Christian 
world  at  large,  especially  when  the  affirmative  would  do  others  no 
good,  and  themselves  harm ;  from  which  has  arisen  the  opinion  that 
they  preach  one  thing  abroad,  and  practise  quite  differently  at  home. 

For  to  the  initiated  only  is  it  given  to  know  the  "  mysteries  of 
the  kingdom,"  and  they  hesitate  not  to  rebuke  the  impertinent 
curiosity  of  the  Mormonish  at  home,  and  the  tares  among  the 
wheat  —  and  meet  the  outsiders  with  a  flat  denial  of  what,  to  a 
true  believer,  would  be  readily  admitted  as  correct.  It  is  to  them 
the  pleading  of  guilty  or  not  guilty  of  a  court  of  justice. 

Their  casuistry  makes  this  perfectly  proper  to  their  own  minds, 
and  it  often  turns  on  the  meaning  of  certain  words  which  convey 
a  peculiar  sense  to  each  party.  This  can  be  made  more  plain  by 
reference  to  the  subject  of  "plurality  of  wives." 

POLYGAMY. 

It  has  been  constantly  denied  that  it  is  a  doctrine  of  theirs  to 
have  "spiritual  wives. " 

An  intelligent  lady  informed  me  that  she  had  considered  it 
right,  when  asked  by  her  friends,  while  on  an  eastern  visit,  to  say 
that  "  it  is  no  doctrine  of  ours  to  have  spiritual  wives ; "  and  this, 
although  the  interrogators  may  have  had  in  their  minds  nothing 
more  than  plurality  and  its  supposed  abuses. 

That  many  have  a  large  number  of  wives  in  Deseret,  is  perfectly 
manifest  to  any  one  residing  long  among  them,  and,  indeed,  the 
subject  begins  to  be  more  openly  discussed  than  formerly,  and  it 
is  announced  that  a  treatise  is  in  preparation,  to  prove  by  the 
scriptures  the  right  of  plurality  by  all  Christians,  if  not  to  declare 
their  own  practice  of  the  same. 


63  -      POLYGAMY   AMONG   THE    MORMONS. 

The  revelation  of  Joseph  on  the  subject  of  polygamy  has 
probably  never  been  printed,  or  publicly  circulated.  When  he 
declared  to  the  council  the  revelation,  it  was  made  known  that  he, 
like  the  saints  of  old,  David,  Solomon,  and  Jacob,  and  those  He 
thought  faithful,  should  be  privileged  to  have  as  many  wives  as 
they  could  manage  to  take  care  of,  to  raise  up  a  holy  household 
for  the  service  of  the  Lord.  Immediately  rumors  were  spread  that 
the  wives  of  many  of  the  people  were  re-married  to  the  leaders 
and  high -priests,  and  subject  to  them,  which  they  declared  to  be  a 
slander;  and  maintain  that  the  relation  existing  among  them  is 
a  pure  and  holy  one,  and  that  their  doctrine  is,  that  every  man  shall 
have  one  wife,  and  every  woman  only  one  husband,  as  is  laid  down 
in  the  Book  of  Covenants  Iby  revelation. 

Yet  they  affirm  that  this  allows  to  the  man  a  plurality,  as  the 
phrase  is  peculiarly  worded ;  —  the  only  applying  to  the  female 
alone.  They  go  so  far  as  to  say  that  our  Savior  had  three  wives, 
Mary  and  Martha  and  the  other  Mary  whom  Jesus  loved,  all  mar- 
ried at  the  wedding  in  Cana  of  Galilee.* 

Again,  they  teach  that  the  use  and  foundation  of  matrimony  is  to 
raise  up  a  peculiar,  holy  people  for  the  Kingdom  of  God  the  Son, 
that  at  the  Millennium  they  may  be  resurrected  to  reign  with 
him,  and  the  glory  of  the  man  will  be  in  proportion  to  the  size 

of  his  household  of  children,  wives,  and  servants, —  but  that  those 

t 

*  Since  writing  the  above,  their  teaching  on  this  point  is  given  by  Or- 
son Hyde,  chief  of  the  Apostles,  in  the  Guardian  of  Dec.  26th,  1851. 
"If  in  Christ  himself  were  fulfilled  the  words  of  Isaiah,' He  shall  see 
his  seed,  he  shall  prolong  his  days,  and  the  pleasure  of  the  Lord  shall 
prosper  in  his  hand,'  the  Christian  world  are  not  mistaken  in  their  opin- 
ion. But  how  were  they  fulfilled  ?  If,  at  the  marriage  of  Cana  of  Gal- 
ilee, Jesus  was  the  bridegroom  and  took  unto  him  Mary,  Martha,  and 
the  other  Mary  whom  Jesus  loved,  it  shocks  not  our  nerves. 

"  If  there  were  not  an  attachment  and  familiarity  between  our  Savior 
and  these  women  highly  improper,  only  in  the  relation  of  husband  and 
wife,  then  we  have  no  sense  of  propriety,  or  of  the  characteristics  of 
good  and  refined  society.  Wisely  then  was  it  concealed ;  but  when 
the  Savior  poured  out  his  soul  unto  death,  when  nailed  to  the  cross,  he 
saw  his  seed  of  children,  but  who  shall  declare  his  generation  ?  No  one, 


POLYGAMY   AMONG    THE    MORMONS.  69 

eligible  to  the  priesthood  have  only  a  right  to  marry  at  all.*  It  is 
-  to  .be  a  pure  and  holy  state ;  and  religious  motives  or  a  sense  of 
duty,  should  alone  guide ;  and  that  for  sensual  gratifications  it  is 
an  abomination. 

Infidelity  and  licentiousness  are  held  up  for  abhorrence;  and 
when  the  "plurality"  law  shall  be  promulgated,  they  will  be  pun- 
ished by  the  decapitation  of  the  offender  and  the  severest  chastity 
inculcated  upon  one  sex,  and  rigid  continence  on  the  other  during 
the  gestation  and  nursing  of  children.  Thus  the  time  of  wean- 
ing will  again  become  a  feast  of  joy,  next  to  the  celebration  of  the 
nuptial  rite,  and  patriarchal  times  return. 

Quoting  the  Scripture  that  "  the  man  is  not  without  the  woman, 
nor  the  woman  without  the  man/'  they  affirm  that  it  is  the  duty 
of  every  man  to  marry  at  least  once,  and  that  a  woman  cannot 
enter  into  the  heavenly  kingdoms  without  a  husband  to  introduce 
her  as  belonging  to  himself. 

And  it  has  been  said  that  some  women,  distrusting  the  title  of 
their  spouses  to  enter  at  all,  have  been  desirous  to  take  hold  of 
the  skirt  of  an  apostle  or  high-priest  with  superior  credentials ;  how 
far  correct  we  are  not  sufficiently  informed  to  state  positively,  and 
can  only  speak  of  such  rumors  as  existing,  and  beg  pardon  for 
mentioning  the  scandal. 

The  addition  of  wives,  after  the  first,  to  a  man's  family,  is  called 
a  "sealing  to  him."  V 

This  constitutes  a  relation  with  all  the  rights  and  sanctions  of 

if  he  had  none  to  be  declared.  Notwithstanding  this,  which  to  many  is 
a  new  and  strange  feature  in  Christianity,  are  we  not  disposed  to  mock 
at  it,  neither  to  regret  salvation  through  the  Virgin's  son." 

*  On  the  24th  July  last,  the  orator  said:  "  Here  let  the  sacred  rights 
of  matrimony,  like  the  pure  love  of  God  « spread  undivided  and  operate 
unspent,'  until  the  children  of  Abraham  become  as  numerous  as  the 
stars  above,  or  the  sands  below,  that  from  the  resurrection,  the  joint 
heirs  of  Jesus  Christ  may  do  the  works  that  their  Father  did,  till  each 
in  the  centre  of  his  own  glory  may  reign  in  his  own  Eternity  a  God." 
"  Let  it  be  a  sacred  motto,— The  woman  that  marries  out  of  the  priest- 
hood, marries  for  hell." 


70  POLYGAMY   AMONG    THE    MORMONS. 

matrimony; — and  as  they  claim  to  have  the  only  true  priesthood, 
which  alone  can  bind  the  parties  in  'the  holy  state  and  make  them 
"  one  flesh ,"  it  follows  that  they  have  the  only  true  marriages  now 
existing  upon  earth. 

Thus  guarded  in  the  motive,  and  denounced  as  sin  for  other 
consideration  than  divine,  the  practical  working  of  the  system,  so 
far  as  now  extended,  has  every  appearance  of  decorum.  The 
romantic  notion  of  a  single  love  is  derided,  and  met  by  calling 
attention  to  the  case  of  parental  affection ;  where  the  father's  good 
will  is  bestowed  alike  on  each  of  his  many  children;  and  they 
pretend  to  see  a  more  rational  application  of  a  generous  soul  in 
loving  more  than  one  wife,  than  in  the  bigotry  of  a  partial  adhe- 
sion. The  Seer  alone  has  the  power,  which  he  can  use  by  delega- 
tion, of  granting  the  privilege  of  increasing  the  number  of  wives : 
the  rule  of  primitive  ages  is  applied  in  the  case,  and  the  suitor 
must  first  have  the  consent  of  the  parents,  then  consult  the  lady, 
and  the  Seer. 

Every  unmarried  woman  has  a  right  to  demand  a  man  in  mar- 
riage, if  she  is  neglected,  on  the  ground  of  the  privilege  of  salva- 
tion; and  the  President  who  receives  the  petition  must  provide 
for  her;  and  he  has  the  authority  to  command  any  man  he  deems 
competent  to  support  her,  "to  seal  her"  to  himself  in  marriage; 
and  the  man  so  ordered  must  show  just  cause  and  impediment  why 
it  should  not  be  done,  if  he  dislikes  the  union ;  or  else  be  consi- 
dered contumacious  and  "  in  danger  of  the  council/7 

The  Seer  sometimes  has  to  exercise  his  judgment  in  preventing 
incongruous  sealings  from  unworthy  motives,  and  to  tell  such  that 
what  they  now  esteem  a  privilege,  will  turn  out  soon  to  be  a  bur- 
den. 

This  interference  with  the  kingdom  of  Cupid  calls  for  most  ju- 
dicious measures  on  his  part,  for  in  that  court  his  decisions,  guided 
by  Reason,  are  apt  to  be  demurred  to  by  Passion.  But,  as  he 
can  join,  so  too  can  he  annul  the  contract,  and  dissolve  the  rela- 
tionship of  the  parties,  when,  after  he  has  counselled  them  and 
given  them  a  proper  probation,  they  still  find  an  incompatibility 
to  exist.  Out  of  this  matter  grows  an  immense  po^er,  based  upon 


POLYGAMY    AMONG    THE    MORMONS.  71 

bis  knowledge  of  all  the  domestic  relations  in  the  colony  ;  —  such 
delicate  confidence  begets  a  reverence  and  fear,  and  while  things 
proceed  harmoniously,  a  love  to  him  as  their  adviser  and  friend. 
And  as  the  peace  of  the  society  depends  materially  on  that  of  fam- 
ilies, he  watches  over  this  part  of  the  prerogative  with  great  solici- 
tude, and  keeps  the  parties,  so  far  as  practicable,  up  to  their  en- 
gagements. 

In  some  instances  several  wives  occupy  the  same  house  and  the 
same  room,  as  their  dwellings  have  generally  only  one  apartment, 
but  it  is  usual  to  board  out  the  extra  ones,  who  most  frequently 
"pay  their  own  way ,"  by  sewing,  and  other  female  employments. 
It  is  but  fairness  to  add  that  they  hold  the  time  near  at  hand  pre- 
dicted by  Isaiah,  «  when  seven  women  shall  take  hold  of  the  skirt 
of  one  man  and  say,  We  will  eat  our  own  bread,  but  let  us  be 
called  by  thy  name  :" — which  gives  the  assurance  that  plurality 
is  foretold  and  correctly  practised  by  them. 

It  is  only  a  little  in  anticipation  of  the  time  when  u  the  battles 
of  the  Lord"  are  to  begin,  and  then,  as  the  women  are  far  more 
pure  than  the  men,  the  females  will  greatly  outnumber  the  males, 
for  the  latter  will  be  swept  off  by  sword  and  pestilence,  and  the 
other  reserved  to  increase  the  retinue  of  the  saints ;  and  many 
women  will  thus  be  compelled  to  choose  the  same  man,  in  order 
to  secure  a  temporal  home  and  temporal  salvation,  as  also  to  obtain 
eternal  right  to  a  terrestrial  or  celestial  queenship. 

It  is  further  maintained  that  there  is  great  disparity  of  numbers 
between  the  sexes,  and  that  the  predominance  of  the  female  is 
more  than  can  be  accounted  for  from  war,  the  dangers  of  the  sea 
and  other  perils,  and  therefore  nature  indicates  the  propriety  of 
plurality,  as  "  marriage  is  honorable  to  all ; "  but  the  decision  of 
this  question  can  safely  be  intrusted  to  the  relative  numbers  of  the 
sexes,  as  exhibited  in  our  census  returns. 

They  also  assure  us  that  this  system  is  the  preventive  and  cure 
for  the  awful  licentiousness  —  the  moral  and  physical  degradation 
in  the  world  :  and  they  make  it  both  a  religious  and  a  social  cus- 
tom, a  point  of  personal  honour  for  a  man  whose  wife,  daughter, 
or  sister  has  been  led  astray,  to  kill  the  seducer ;  and  considering 


FZ  POLYGAMY   AMONG    THE    MORMONS. 

this  as  "  common  mountain  law,"  based  on  the  Mosaic  code,  a 
jury  will  acquit  the  murderer  at  all  hazards.* 

That  the  wives  find  the  relation  often  a  lonesome  and  burden- 
some one,  is  certain;  though  usually  the  surface  of  society  wears 
a  smiling  countenance,  and  to  all  who  consent  from  a  sense  of  duty 
or  enthusiasm  the  yoke  is  easy. 

The  wife  of  the  prophet  Joseph  rebelled  against  it,  and  declared 
if  he  persisted  she  would  desert  for  another,  but  the  only  satisfac- 
tion she  received  was  "that  a  prophet  must  obey  the  Lord/' 
When  such  wives  rebel,  the  proceedings  are  very  summary,  and 
public  opinion  sustains  the  cause  against  the  woman.  A  very 
exemplary  lady  in  the  valley  is  looked  upon  as  having  broken  her 
vows  for  deserting  the  "Sealed  one  "  and  marrying  another,  and 
therefore  is  not  invited  into  social  parties. 

An  instance. of  summary  proceeding  came  directly  before  us  at 
Bear  River.  A  Socialist  emigrant  from  Monsieur  Cabet's commu- 
nity at  Nauvoo,  passed  the  winter  at  Salt  Lake  City,  and  in  the 
spring  started  on  his  journey  to  California.  He  had  in  his  train 
a  woman  with  a  child  about  two  years  old,  who  had  applied  to  him 
for  transportation  to  the  land  of  gold,  and  represented  that  the  dig- 
nitary to  whom  she  had  been  "  sealed  "  had  not  visited  or  provided 
for  her  for  three  years ;  and  that  a  young  man  was  betrothed 
to  her  who  was  in  California,  and  if  she  could  join  him  they 
should  marry  according  to  the  laws  of  the  land.  The  socialist's 
heart  was  touched,  and  he  kindly  offered  her  the  means  of  proceed- 
ing, and  they  had  come  about  one  hundred  miles  when  a  posse 
overtook  them,  and  demanded  that  the  young  woman  should  return 
to  her  legal  or  sealed  husband.  He  consulted  us  whether  to  give 
up  his  charge  —  but  the  power  precluded  remonstrance,  and  the 
lady  reluctantly  retraced  her  steps. 

*  In  the  trial  of  Egan  at  Great  Salt  Lake  City  for  killing,  in  cool  blood 
the  seducer  of  the  wife,  daring  the  husband's  absence,  it  was  declared  that 
civil  damages  marked  the  rottenness  of  other  governments,  and  that 
"  The  principle,  the  only  one  that  beats  and  throbs  through  the  heart  of 
the  entire  inhabitants  of  this  territory,  is  simply  this :  The  man  who  se- 
duces his  neighbour's  wife,  must  die,  and  her  nearest  relative  must  kill  him" 


ADOPTION    AMONG    THE    MORMONS.  73 

Some  other  instances  came  under  our  notice,  of  like  character, 
from  which  we  must  conclude  that  the  regulation  of  the  new  "  plu- 
rality" has  not  yet  become  perfect,  and  that  the  virtues  claimed 
as  pertaining  to  it  are  not  in  complete  vigor ;  but  we  may  add  that 
the  community  had  every  appearance  of  good  morals,  so  that  any 
equal  number  of  persons  in  the  States  can  scarcely  exhibit  greater  . 
decorum. 

Another  method  of  increasing  the  household  and  adding  to  the 
glory  of  the  chiefs  is  by  "adoption/'  This  consists  in  taking 
whole  families  and  adopting  them  as  part  and  parcel  of  the  family 
of  the  chief,  and  arises  out  of  the  humility  of  the  person  so  pro- 
posing to  attach  himself  to  the  sacred  character  of  some  great  dig- 
nitary of  the  church.  There  were  pointed  out  to  me,  several  who 
held  this  relationship  to  the  Seers.  The  man  is  called,  for  in- 
stance, "Son  of  Brigham  by  adoption/'  and  lives  with  him,  or 
near  by,  and  acts  for  him  as  a  child  does  for  his  parent,  and  re- 
ceives his  subsistence,  clothing,  and  living  conjointly  with  the 
family. 

This  patriarchal  stewardship  method  increases  the  authority  of 
the  presidency,  and  is  intended  to  extend  into  the  other  world  after 
the  resurrection.  It  certainly  speaks  well  for  the  kindness  on  the 
side  of  the  patriarch,  and  for  the  belief  in  his  holiness,  and  of 
truth  in  his  teachings,  in  the  estimation  of  those  who  attach  them- 
selves to  the  destinies  of  a  fellow-man ;  while,  at  the  same  time, 
it  shows  how  fanaticism  can  overcome  the  strongest  feeling  of  in- 
dependence. 

Much  has  been  said  of  the  Mormon  profanity,  in  the  pulpit  and 
out  of  it.  But  what  is  considered  profanity  by  the  world,  is  not 
thus  considered  with  them — for  they  take  their  vain  oaths  without 
taking  the  name  of  the  Supreme  in  connection  with  the  words. 

They  curse  or  condemn  with  man's  curses  whenever  they  please, 
and  such  rough  language  sounds  gratingly  in  refined  ears,  when  it 
becomes  usual  in  ordinary  conversation  —  how  they  have  learned 
to  consider  it  innocent,  we  cannot  imagine. 

The  using  of  the  name  of  God   is  allowed   only  on  judicial 
occasions,  when  a  curse  is  laid  upon  some  individual,  as  that  of 
7 


74  COARSENESS    OF   LANGUAGE. 

Joseph  upon  G-oyernor  Boggs,  who  had  one  fulminated '  against 
him,  accompanied  by  the  prophecy  that  he  should  become  a 
vagabond  afflicted  with  a  scab,  and  be  loathsome  to  himself  and 
all  his  former  friends,  wishing  for.  death,  without  dying,  for  a  long 
time.  v 

When,  therefore,  we  hear  that  their  apostles  and  prophets  have 
outraged  decency  in  their  temple  language,  let  us  bear  in  mind 
their  education  and  instruction  is  to  make  a  distinction  between 
the  most  denunciatory  words  applied  as  expressions  of  dissent  or 
emphasis,  and  taking  the  name  of  Jehovah  in  connection  with  the 
epithets,  whereby  they  become  blasphemy,  and  subject  to  severe 
civil  penalty. 

Like  other  new  sects,  they  have  their  peculiar  phraseology  and 
terms  of  technical  signification,  which  is  "considered  wisdom "  in 
them ;  and,  without  knowing  their  import,  a  grievous  misconcep- 
tion might  be  made.  ( 

Sometimes  a  ludicrous  scene  occurs  in  their  meetings,  arising 
from  overwrought  enthusiasm.  One  is  related  of  a  woman  who 
sprang  up  and  spoke  "in  tongues "  as  follows  — " Melai,  Meli, 
Melee"  which  was  immediately  translated  into  the  vernacular  by 
a  waggish  young  man,  who  first  observed  that  he  felt  "the  gift  of 
interpretation  of  tongues"  sorely  pressing  upon  him,  and  that  she 
said  in  unknown  words  to  herself,  amy  leg,  my  thigh,  my  knee." 
For  this  he  was  called  before  the  council ;  but  he  stoutly  persisted 
in  his  "interpretation"  being  by  "the  spirit,"  and  they  let  him 
off  with  admonition. 

In  social  parties  and  lively  meetings  the  Mornions  are  pre- 
eminent, and  their  hospitality  would  be  more  readily  extended  to 
strangers,  had  they  suitable  dwellings  to  invite  them  into. 

The  adobe  or  sun-dried  brick  is  now  furnishing  material,  and 
the  one-room  log  buildings  are  being  replaced  by  spacious  and 
commodious  houses. 

In  their  social  gatherings  and  evening  parties,  patronized  by  the 
presence  of  the  prophets  and  apostles,  it  is  not  unusual  to  open 
the  ball  by  prayer,  asking  the  blessing  of  God  upon  their  amuse- 
ments, as  well  as  upon  any  other  engagement  —  and  then  will 


MORMON    PHRASEOLOGY.  75 

follow  the  most  sprightly  dancing,  in  which  all  join  with  hearty 
good-will,  from  the  highest  dignitary  to  the  humblest  individual; 
and  this  exercise  is  to  become  part  of -the  temple  worship,  to 
" praise-God  in  songs  and  dances/' 

These  private  balls  and  soirees  are  frequently  extended  beyond 
the  time  of  cock-crowing  by  the  younger  members,  and  the 
remains  of  the  -evening  repast  furnislies  the  breakfast  for  the 
jovial  guests. 

The  cheerful,  happy  faces — the  self-satisfied  countenances — the 
cordial  salutation  of  brother  or  sister  on  all  occasions  of  address 
—  the  lively  strains  of  music  pouring  forth  from  merry  hearts  in 
every  doniicil,  as  women  and  children  sing  their  "  songs  of  Zion," 
while  plying  the  domestic  tasks,  give  an  impression  of  a  happy 
society  in  the  vales  of  Deseret. 

The  influence  of  their  nomenclature  of  "brethren  and  sisters" 
is  apparent  in  their  actions,  and  creates  the  bond  of  affection 
among  those  who  are  more  frequently  thrown  together.  It  is 
impressed  on  infantile  minds  by  the  constant  repetition,  and 
induces  the  feeling  of  family  relationship.  A  little  boy  was  asked 
the  usual  question,  "whose  son  are  you?"  and  he  very  naively 
replied,  "I  am  brother  Pack's  son;"  a  small  circumstance  truly, 
but  one  that  stamps  the  true  mark  of  the  Mormon  society.  The 
welfare  of  the  order  becomes  therefore  paramount  to  individual 
interest ;  and  the  union  of  hearts  causes  the  hands  to  unite  in  all 
that  pertains  to  the  glory  of  the  State ;  and  hence  we  see  growing 
up  and  prospering,  the  most  enterprising  people  of  the  age  — 
combining  the  advantages  of  communism,  placed  on  the  basis  of 
religious  duty  and  obedience  to  what  they  call  the  law  of  the 
gospel  —  transcending  the  notion  of  socialistic  philosophers,  that 
human  regulations  can  improve  and  perfect  society,  irrespective  of 
the  revealed  word  and  will  of  God. 

Right  or  wrong,  in  the  development  of  the  principle  and  in  its 
application,  they  have  seized  upon  the  most  permanent  element  of 
the  human  mind  in  its  social  relations  —  not  yielding  fully  to  the 
doctrines  of  earnestness  and  universal  intention,  making  man  his 
own  regenerator)  as  the  fountain-head  of  truth,  and  massing  thenco 


76  WIDOWS   AND   WIDOWERS. 

into  mysticism,  pantheism,  and  atheism  ;  neither  endeavoring  to 
cure  the  ills  of  society  by  political  notions  of  trade  and  commerce, 
or  by  educating  in  the  sentiment  of  honor,  and  by  poetical  incul- 
cation of  high  thoughts  and  noble  images,  independent  of  being 
"born  of  the  water  and  the  spirit."  We  may  use  the  words  of 
one  of  their  learned  and  most  sincere  men,  to  exhibit  their  view 
of  obtaining  the  aggregate  result  of  single  efforts,  which  are  these  : 
u  Our  polity,  I  think,  may  be  summed  up  in  these  few  words  — 
each  person  to  operate  at  what  and  where  he  can  do  the  best,  and 
with  all  his  might;  being  subject  to  the  counsel  of  those  above 
him/' 

To  take  that  counsel  is  sometimes  a  bitter  pill,  and  hundreds 
disobeyed  it,  and  left  sober  earnings  at  home  for  the  prospect  of 
fortunes  in  the  gold  mines  of  California.  The  President  and 
Council  opposed  emigration,  though  receiving  abundance  from  the 
tithes  by  their  superintendent  there ;  and  often  declared  that  it 
would  be  a  great  calamity  to  discover  mines  in  their  own  regions ; 
for  people  would  desert  their  farms  and  preparations  for  comfort- 
able dwellings,  for  unsatisfying  dross.  Counsel  on  matrimonial 

matters  is  better  obeyed.  Bishop  J was  adding  an  apartment 

to  a  commodious  house,  and,  having  a  small  family,  it  caused  a 
remark  or  question,  why  he  thus  extended  his  domicil.  "  Ah  !" 
was  the  ready  reply,  "did  you  not  know  that  he  is  obliged  to  take 
his  brother's  widow  to  wife,  and  the  proper  time  is  nearly  arrived?" 
We  remembered  the  case  of  the  wife  of  seven  brothers;  and 
moreover,  being  only  an  humble  layman,  presumed  not  further  to 
interrogate  the  acts  of  a  bishop  of  that  Melchisedek  priesthood. 

The  subject  of  widows  and  widowers  introduces  some  nice 
questions  of  rank  and  precedence  in  the  future  patriarchal  courts. 
A  lady  of  superior  abilities  and  great  enthusiasm,  sealed  later  than 
the  first  wife,  whose  modest  talents  are  thereby  cast  into  the  shade, 
may  aspire  to  the  place  of  first  queen,  TO  BE  :  and  thus  an 
affectionate  rivalry  can  be  raised,  of  v.hVu  the  expectant  king 
reaps  the  sole  benefit.  The  widow  of  ^  ,  eral  husbands  must  have 
doubts  to  which  she  shall  owe  her  elevation,  unless  she  fortunately 
loved  one  supremely  —  and  the  wife  finds  a  rival  in  the  brother's 


CURIOSITY    OF   A   LADY.  77 

widow,  from  the  tie  of  consanguinity.     The  troubles  of  the  high 
Chieftain  are  said  to  arise  from  still  another  cause. 

He  had  a  wife  dearly  beloved  before  becoming  a  Mormon,  who 
died  out  of  his  church;  but  she  can  be  saved  by  substituted 
baptism,  and  his  next  partner  has  become  exceedingly  anxious  to 
know  whether  her  predecessor  will  be  resurrected  to  be  the  chief 
of  the  queens,  or  if  that  important  station  is  reserved  for  herself, 
who  has  partaken  of  so  ".much  tribulation/'  Why  the  question 
is  not  categorically  answered  we  cannot  opine— but,  if  women  ever 
do  teaze,  we  may  suppose  such  a  subject  likely  to  call  out  all 
their  resources  to  gratify  curiosity. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  PRIESTHOOD,  SCHOOLS,  ETC. 

THE  powers  of  the  priesthood  are  thus  stated  in  the  Guardian ; 
the  "gift  of  faith,  discerning  of  spirits,  prophecy,  revelation, 
visions,  healing,  tongues,  and  the  interpretation  of  tongues, 
wisdom,  charity,  brotherly  love/'  Pre-eminent  in  all  these  is  the 
head  man  of  the  priestly  order;  supposed  to  be,  and  looked  up  to 
as,  the  Lord's  peculiar  prophet,  with  ability  to  read  the  hearts  of 
men,  his  spiritual  authority  is  complete ;  and  having  so  large  a 
share  of  the  wealth  of  the  people  at  his  command,  and  their  entire 
will  submissive  to  his  behests,  the  President  of  the  Latter-Day 
Saints  is  the  most  autocratic  ruler  in  the  world.  Tut  his  great 
authority  has  thus  far  been  made  subservient  to  the  public 
interests,  and  his  attention  never  diverted  from  alleviating  indi- 
vidual distress  —  therefore  it  is  no  wonder  that  his  sanctity  is 
believed  above  reproach,  and  his  least  wish  abjectly  complied 
with  by  almost  all  over  whom  he  presides  with  unlimited  sway. 

Yet  it  is  more  the  office  than  the  man  that  carries  such  a  prestige 
of  command  with  those  intimately  connected  with  the  source  of 
power,  or  with  the  mass  at  a  distance — there  is  not  the  usual  man- 
worship  found  in  the  admirers  of  splendid  abilities  and  achieve- 
ments of  the  founders  of  religious  sects.  The  people  are  mostly 
composed  of  those  converted  in  foreign  lands,  whose  necks  have 
been  bent  to  force,  instead  of  yielding  obedience  by  choice ;  and 
their  present  condition  is  one  of  greater  freedom  and  elevation  of 
character  than  while  groaning  under  civil  despotism.  Taught  to 
regard  themselves  as  the  chosen  of  the  Lord,  soon  to  act  on  a 
theatre  of  renown  and  glory,  with  angels  and  saints  to  look  on, 
and  cheer  them  with  celestial  applause  for  noble  deeds,  they 
cheerfully  await  the  signal  of  heaven  to  march  under  its  banner; 

(78) 


ADHERENCE   TO   FIRST   PRINCIPLES.  79 

and  they  lend  their  means  to  bring  up  to  their  rendezvous  all  who 
will  fraternize  with  them,  and  listen  to  the  voice  of  their  shepherd, 
wherever  wandering  in  the  wastes  of  the  moral  world,  and  so  soon 
as  its  tones  are  heard,  gladly  turn  to  the  green  pastures  of  truth 
in  the  mountains,  and  come  out  to  strengthen  the  cords  of  the 
"Stake  of  Zion."- 

A  cardinal  point  being  an  unshaken  belief  in  the  inspiration  of 
Joseph  the  Seer,  and  that  the  prophetic  mantle  has  fallen  on  his 
successor  Brigham,  the -new  church  Elijah  and  Elisha;  any 
reflections  derogatory  to  the  character  of  either,  based  on  suspicion, 
innuendo,  or  hearsay,  is  an  insult  of  the  darkest  dye  to  them. 
But.  this  adoration  is  not  universal ;  nor  must  we  look  upon  all  as 
ignorant  and  blindfolded,  guided  along  the  ditch  of  enthusiasm  by 
self-deluded  leaders.  Indeed,  almost  every  man  is  a  priest,  or 
eligible  to  the  office,  and  ready  armed  for  the  controversial  warfare; 
his  creed  is  his  idol ;  and  while  among  the  best  prosely  ters  we  class 
many  that  are  least  versed  in  literary  attainments,  still,  among 
them  we  find  liberally  educated  men,  and  those  who  have  been 
ministers  in  other  denominations  —  in  fact  there  seems  to  be  as 
fair  a  sample  of  intelligence,  moral  probity,  and  good  citizenship, 
as  can  be  found  in  any  nominal  Christian  community. 

Sincerity  and  simplicity  of  purpose  mark  the  masses,  which 
virtues  have  been  amply  proved  by  the  sacrifices  and  sufferings 
endured.  And  among  that  people,  so  submissive  to  counsel,  are 
those  who  watch  with  eagle  eye  that  first  principles  are  adhered  to, 
and  stand  ready  to  proclaim  apostacy  in  chief  or  in  layman ;  and 
-  Scrutinizing  all  revelations  to  discover  whether  they  are  from  the 
Lord,  or  given  through  his  permission  by  Satan,  to  test  the  fidelity 
and  watchfulness  of  the  disciples  of  truth. 

It  was  in  conformity  with  this  watchful  and  scrutinizing  spirit 
on  the  part  of  those  determined  to  adhere  strictly  to  first  princi- 
ples, that  the  volumes  presented  by  Gladden  Bishop,  the  revelations 
of  Rigdon  and  others,  were  pronounced  to  have  a  deinon  character; 
and  the  pretensions  of  William  Smith  and  J.  J.  Strang,  the 
Beaver  Island  "  King,"  declared  to  be  spurious,  and  they,  with 
their  followers,  were  solemnly  excommunicated. 


80  ARRANGEMENTS  FOR  EDUCATION. 


EDUCATION.  ^ 

In  Utah  or  Deseret,  the  arrangements  for  the  cause  of  education 
are  upon  an  extensive  scale. 

Hitherto  all  exertion  has  necessarily  been  bestowed  on  obtaining 
the  means  of  living;  to  fence  fields,  build  houses,  and  tend  their 
crops  and  herds.  But  as  soon  as  this  pressure  slackened,  we  find 
them  appropriating  liberally  for  a  university,  which  shall  be 
eminently  practical  in  its  character,  and  designed  to  teach  the 
useful  branches  thoroughly,  first,  to  all,  and  allow  those  who  have 
the  leisure  and  the  means,  to  acquire  the  ornamental  afterwards. 

The  selected  grounds  for  the  university  buildings  are  beautifully 
located  on  the  first  broad  terrace,  in  the  north  part  of  the  temple 
city,  and  overlook  the  dwellings  of  the  town.  City  Creek  has 
excavated  a  deep  channel  through  this  table-land,  as  it  bursts  out 
from  the  mountains,  and  its  waters  are  to  be  taken  at  the  requisite 
elevation  in  the  hills,  and  conducted  to  the  college  plat,  and  made 
to  beautify  the  scenery  in  jets,  and  water  the  groves,  walks,  and 
botanical  gardens ;  and  a  part  used  for  health,  in  extensive  bath 
and  swimming  houses. 

A  large  square  is  to  be  allotted  and  fitted  to  athletic  and  eques- 
trian exercises;  an  observatory  for  practical  astronomy,  and  the 
instruments  already  collected  are  to  be  freely  used  to  instruct  on' 
the  ground,  in  the  several  departments  of  engineering,  mechanics, 
and  surveying — the  agricultural  department  liberally  patronised ; 
and  the  living,  spoken  languages  of  all  peoples  thoroughly  taught 
to  the  proper  students. 

A  peculiar  feature  in  their  instruction  is  the  introduction  of 
a  "  Parent's  school "  for  the  heads  of  families ;  and,  at  the  time  of 
the  organization,  the  President  is  said  to  have  avowed  his  inten- 
tion of  attending  it  as  a  scholar,  which  is  gladly  mentioned  as  a 
thing  redounding  to  his  praise,  and  showing  his  strength  of 
character;  as  also  calculated  to  show  others  of  his  people  that  the 
time  for  acquiring  knowledge  is  during  the  whole  life  of  man.  It 
is  too  often  that  the  school-room  is  deserted  in  early  life,  or  the 
idea  acted  upon,  that,  if  our  youthful  days  have  not  acquired  the 


EXALTED   ANTICIPATIONS.  81 

elementary  branches,  it  is  of  no  use  afterwards  to  try  to  remedy 
the  deficiency. 

The  Parents'  school,  patronized  by  the  Presidency  and  Regents 
of  the  University,  with  the  members  of  the  High  Council,  must 
have  an  immense  influence  in  refining,  elevating,  and  ennobling 
the  mind  of  the  public  generally.  Primary  schools,  opened  under 
the  direction  of  the  chancellor,  and  inspected  by  the  Regents,  are 
well  attended  by  the  children ;  but  the  whole  system  is  now  like 
chaos  being  reduced  to  order.  Their  philosophers  already  aspire 
to  something  more  than  has  yet  been  accomplished;  and  they 
assert  that  they  shall  soon  revolutionize  the  kingdom  of  science, 
and  surpass  the  most  learned  in  mathematics,  philosophy,  and  the 
sciences  of  observation. 

The  geologist  and  chemist  must  directly  come  to  them  to  learn 
the  wonders  developed  from  below,  and  in  the  mineral  kingdoms; 
and  the  botanist  and  naturalist  to  study  the  arcana  of  the  principle 
of  life,  elaborated  in  the  vegetable  and  animal.  For,  having  "  sought 
first  the  kingdom  of  Heaven/'  tkey  look  now  for  the  promise  of 
having  all  other  things  and  knowledge  added;  but  they  sensibly  add, 
that  the  Lord  helps  those  who  help  themselves,  and  that  their  minds 
will  only  be  quickened  to  perceive  by  the  most  intense  industry.* 

*  From  one  of  the  Regents,  speaking  of  the  University.  —  Phelps' 
24th  July  Oration,  1851.  —  "Beseeching  the  whole  church  to  pray  the 
Lord,  our  Heavenly  Father,  to  send  down  some  of  the  Regents  from  the 
great  University  of  Perfection,  as  he  did  to  Noah,  Moses,  and  others, 
to  unfold  unto  his  servants  the  principles  of  wisdom,  philosophy,  and 
science,  which  are  truth." — "  But  what  with  all  the  precious  things  of 
time,  the  inventions  of  man,  the  records  from  Japhet  in  the  ark  to 
Jonathan  in  Congress,  embracing  the  wit  and  the  gist,  the  fashions  and 
the  folly,  which  so  methodically,  grammatically,  and  transcendantally 
grace  the  libraries  of  the  elite  of  nations,  really  be  worth  to  a  saint, 
when  our  Father  sends  down  his  regents,  the  angels,  from  the  grand 
library  of  Zion  above,  with  a  copy  of  the  History  of  Eternal  Lives ;  the 
records  of  worlds ;  the  Genealogy  of  the  Gods  ;  the  philosophy  of  truth  ; 
the  names  of  our  spirits  from  the  Lamb's  Book  of  Life;  and  the  songs 
of  the  sanctified?" — It  must  be  recollected  that  things  on  earth  are  but 
patterns  of  those  in  the  celestial  planet,  according  to  Mormonism. 


82  MORMON    EDUCATION. 

The  greatest  change  will  be  made  in  astronomy — the  system  of 
the  worldr  will  be  modified  in  the  number,  arrangement,  and 
relations  of  the  planets;  and  any  curious  to  anticipate  what  is  to 
burst  upon  us,  may  discover  an  inkling  in  the  Book  of  Abraham, 
which  was  brought  to  Nauvoo  with  some  Egyptian  mummies ;  of 
which  Joseph  translated  a  portion  written  by  the  faithful  patriarch, 
when  he  sojourned  on  the  banks  of  the  Nile,  which  relates  to  the 
planetary  world;  diving  to  the  centre  of  the  universe,  and 
exhibiting  the  great  orb  Kolob,  which  revolves  on  its  axis  once  in 
a  thousand  of  our  years,  and  around  .which  all  else  that  relates  to 
man  is  supposed  to  wheel  in  endless  lines. 

Their  most  profound  mathematician,  while  in  England,  put  forth 
a  feeler  essay,  by  which  the  Newtonian  theories  of  gravitation, 
attraction,  and  repulsion,  are  overthrown;  and  all  the  effects  usu- 
ally attributed  to  them  put  upon  the  intelligence  of  element;  and 
the  motions  of  the  universal  atoms,  either  single  or  combined  in 
mass,  referred  to  the  circumscribing  and  infusing  power  and  pre- 
sence of  the  Holy  Spirit,  acting  directly  upon,  and  through  all 
things.  We  have  not  time  and  perhaps  patience  would  fail  to  fol- 
low the  data  and  the  argument  used  to  prove  this, — and  we  may 
safely  trust  all  developments  of  this  kind  to  their  practical  hands, 
and  rely  upon  experiment  to  furnish  them  with  facts  that  shall . 
bring  them  into  physical  truth ;  and  hope  that  their  researches  will 
contribute  something  to  the  cause  of  science,  and  that  their  admi- 
rable theory  of  education,  when  fully  carried  out,  will  aid  and  en- 
rich our  literary  treasures, 

It  is  understood  that  the  Saxon  and  Celtic  classics,  from  which 
four-fifths  of  our  spoken  words  are  derived,  will  have  a  prominent 
place  and  comparative  attention,  and  stand  side  by  side  in  barbaric 
native  strength  with  the  more  polished  Greek  and  Latin.  The 
sciences  of  observation,  just  taking  a  perfect  form,  and  which 
meet  more  nearly  the  demand  of  the  age  in*  the  educational  mar- 
ket ;  which  are  spread  before  the  eye  of  every  one  that  walks  the 
field,  tills  the  ground,  or  observes  nature's  curious  ways  in  the 
house,  the  shop,  the  study,  or  under  open  skies,  are  those  that 
will  be  pursued  with  the  greatest  ardor. 


ADMINISTRATION   OF   JUSTICE.  83 

By  the  liberality  of  the  last  Congress,  the-  delegate  from  Utah 
was  furnished  the  means  to  select  a  fine  library,  and  this  munifi- 
cence will  greatly  aid  the  cause  of  education  at  their  Zion  Univer- 
sity. "  To  search  for  wisdom  in  all  good  books "  was  the  behest 
of  their  great  prophet,  and  the  sentiment  is  fully  inculcated  on  all. 

This  people  are  jealous  of  their  rights,  and  feel  themselves 
entitled  to  enforce  order  by  their  own  laws,  and  severely  punish 
contempt  of  them. 

The  administration  of  justice  is  of  the  most  simple  kind,  and 
based  on  equity  and  the  merits  of  the  question,  without  reference 
to  the  precedents  and  technicalities,  referring  to  the  rules  of  the 
Mosaic  code,  and  its  manner  of  punishment,  when  applicable. 

Witnesses  are  seldom  put  on  oath  in  the  lower  courts,  and  there 
is  nothing  known  of  the  "law's  delay,"  and  the  quibbles  whereby 
the  ends  of  truth  and  justice  may  be  defeated.  But  they  have  a 
criminal  code  called  "The  Laws  of  The  Lord;"  which  has  been 
given  by  revelation,  and  not  yet  promulgated;  the  people  not 
being  able  quite  to  bear  it,  or  the  organization  still  too  imperfect. 
It  is  to  be  put  in  force,  however,  before  long,  and  when  in  vogue, 
all  grave  crimes  will  be  punished  and  atoned  for,  by  cutting  off 
the  head  of  the  offender.  This  regulation  arises  from  the  fact, 
that  "without  shedding  of  blood  there  is  no  remission" — and  is 
intended  as  an  act  of  mercy  to  the  criminal,  who,  when  he  has 
unwisely  or  through  Satanic  wiles,  jeoparded  his  salvation  by  evil 
acts,  can,  by  willingly  offering  his  neck  to  the  block,  atone  for  all 
his  sins,  and  enter  on  the  "untried  state  of  being"  absolved  from 
guilt,  through  the  sacrifice  of  his  own  blood,  and  obedience  to  this 
"  law  of  the  Lord." 

LOYALTY. 

Though  this  people  fled  to  a  foreign  country  to  enjoy  the  liberty 
that  persecution  denied  them  in  the  states,  as  soon  as  they  found 
their  adopted  land  had  come  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  stripes 
and  stars  —  which  their  own  valor  had  helped  to  win  in  the  army 
of  the  Pacific  against  Mexico, —  they  embraced  the  earliest  oppor- 
tunity of  declaring  their  adherence  to  the  great  charter  of  liberty 


81  DESTINY    OF    MORMONISM. 

and  national  glory,  and  announced  to  the  world  that  it  was  given 
to  our  patriot  fathers  by  divine  inspiration,  and  that  they  will  up- 
hold and  defend  it,  though  all  the  original  parties  shall  secede  and 
trample  it  under  foot. 

"  They  will  make  no  law  forbidden  by  the  sacred  constitution 
of  the  United  States/'  and  predict  that  the  day  is  not  far  distant 
when  they  shall  be  solicited  by  patriotic  American  citizens,  to 
descend  from  their  rocky  fastnesses,  to  enforce  its  sanctions  upon 
those  led  astray  by  frantic  political  delusion  and  anarchy. 

The  great  "  eagle  of  America  is  now  perched  on  her  mountain 
eyrie,  watching  the  unsafe  wanderings  of  her  brood;  and,  ready 
to  stretch  her  pinions  for  the  flight,  will  soon  collect  them  together 
again,  and  bear  them  on  her  wings  to  a  place  of  safety."  Firmly 
cherishing  the  belief  of  their  divine  mission  to  revolutionize  the 
world,  and  that  events  are  even  now  shaped  to  expedite  their  re- 
turn to  the  promised  land  Zion,  they  note  the  crimes,  the  follies 
and  turmoils  in  every  place,  and  a  record  of  them  is  kept  and  filed 
away  with  the  archives  of  their  church  and  state.  These  are  held 
up  as  portents  to  demonstrate  that  the  wrath  of  heaven  is  already 
being  poured  out,  and  the  madness  of  political  factions,  the  bitter 
strifes  of  different  religions, —  the  wars  of  nations,  and  of  peoples 
against  their  governments,  together  with  the  ravages  of  the  cholera 
plague,  all  are  declared  to  show  the  beginning  of  the  end,  and  to 
herald  the  ultimate  triumph  of  Mormonism.  •» 

The  books  they  keep  are  to  be  some  of  those  at  the  great  judg- 
ment, when  "the  books  are  opened" — their  prophet  has  told  them 
to  keep  a  faithful  record ;  and  their  scribes  are  busy  in  forwarding 
the  awful  accounts  that  shall  condemn  this  generation. 

They  enter  into  the  dark  alleys  of  crowded  cities,  and  ferret  out 
the  practices  of  secret  associations  in  the  dens  of  pollution ;  and 
the  details  equal  all  the  imagination  can  picture  of  the  sins  of 
Sodom  and  Gromorrha.  They  note  down  the  aberrations  from 
rectitude  of  the  men  entrusted  with  making  and  executing  our 
laws,  or  who  minister  at  the  altars  of  divine  worship  in  this  and 
other  countries,  until  their  criminal  calendar  of  nations  smells 
rank  to  heaven,  and  causes  their  members  to  regard  themselves^ 


MORMON    ARGUMENTS.  85 

in  point  of  purity,  in  comparison,  as  clothed  with  the  resplendent 
white  robe  of  righteousness. 

And  the  listener  to  the  eulogiums  of  Mormonism  is  pointed  to 
the  success  that  has  attended  their  efforts  —  and  they  proudly 
challenge  him  to  parallel  the  fact,  that,  without  "scrip  or  purse/' 
an  obscure  individual,  iii  the  open  light  of  the  age  which  should 
be  styled  the  most  intelligent,  from  having  the  accumulated 
knowledge  of  those  gone  before  to  add  to  its  own  wisdom,  should 
set  on  foot  a  scheme  by  which  the  deep  mystery  of  a  continent, 
peopled  by  two  different  races,  is  solved ;  the  ;one  swept  off  ere 
history  began  their  record,  save  on  the  broken  column  and  fallen 
arches  of  crumbling  granite;  the  other  without  tradition  of  its 
origin,  fast  following  its  predecessor  to  oblivion,  but  now  taught 
how  to  redeem  its  remnant,  and  knowing  whence  it  came,  regain 
pristine  favor  with  heaven,  in  the  path  of  duty  well  marked  out— 
and  which,  in  twenty  years,  has  multiplied  its  devotees  from  six 
individuals  to  three  hundred  thousand — founded  a  state  in  the  far 
off  wilderness,  and  compelled  a  mighty  nation  to  recognise  them  a 
separate  people,  with  the  right  of  self-government — proclaimed  its 
mission  on  all  the  grand  divisions  of  the  earth,  and  taken  converts 
from  the  patriarchal  states  of  Rome,  and  the  pagan  isles  of  the 
ocean;  all  this,  too;  while  the  fiercest  persecution  was  chasing 
them  from  one  refuge  to  another,  and,  under  the  ban  of  obloquy, 
impeaching  their  motives  and  the  purity  of  their  lives,  as  well  as 
the  scope  of  their  doctrines. 

But  what  we  predicate  of  their  teachings  and  of  their  doctrines 
to-day,  may  not  be  the  truth  of  either  to-morrow.  For  by  the 
doctrine  of  development,  and  having  revelations  according  with 
the  exigencies  of  the  church,  they  may  be  bidden  to  change  their 
policy,  and  suspend  those  commands  found  to  be  inapplicable  to 
their  condition,  and  the  faith  of  the  saints. 

Such  suspension  and  withdrawal  of  privileges   have   already 

become  precedents  —  and  it  should  not  strike  us  with  surprise  to 

hear  that  matrimony  is  confined  again  to  a  single  pair,  on  the  plea 

that  it  has  fulfilled  the  intention  of  its  founder,  and  the  word  is 

8 


00  THE    SAINTS. 

prevailing  fast  enough  to  built  up  the  faith  on  the  earth,  ready 
for  the  Lord's  coming.  , 

The  present  Seer  has  cautioned  his  people  to  be  faithful,  and 
they  may  hope  any  hour  to  receive  a  deputation  from  the  "lost  ten 
tribes  of  Israel,"  which  shall  confirm  them,  and  signal  the  conver- 
sion of  their  red  brethren,  when  "a  nation  shall  be  born  in  a 
day/'  These  lost  tribes  are  supposed  to  be  on  a  fragmentary  part 
of  the  earth,  which  is  either  in  space  revolving  with  its  parent 
planet,  and  -called,  as  it  is  placed  there  "  The  North  Country,"  or 
on  some  insular  land,  to  which  no  vessel  has  ever  been  permitted 
to  sail  and  return  to  publish  the  place  of  abode.  And  there  are 
four  witnesses  to  the  truth  of  the  Gospel  who  have  never  tasted 
death;  these  are,  St.  John  the  Evangelist,  who  was  to  tarry  till 
the  Lord  came,  if  he  so  willed  it ;  and  three  others  of  the  church, 
founded  in  America  by  Christ,  who  begged  the  like  privilege  and 
had  it  granted  to  them,  as  may  be  seen  by  consulting  the  Book  of 
Mormon. 

These  saints  continue  in  perpetual  manhood,  and  travel  over  the 
earth,  assuming  the  language  and  costume  of  the  country  they 
happen  to  be  in,  and  have  visited  some  of  the  brethren  of  the 
Latter-Day  Church,  according  to  their  own  belief  in  receiving 
some  remarkable  strangers  :  they  look  anxiously  for  their  appear- 
ance, to  proclaim  boldly  their  character  and  instruct  the  people 
from  the  temple  pulpit;  but  this  too  will  depend  upon  their  faith- 
ful obedience  to  spiritual  counsel. 

The  Lord  will  not  come  till  the  Temple  of  Reception  is  built; 
the  temple  will  rise  only  by  .the  efforts  of  a  people  specially  orga- 
nized in  the  fjiith;  and  this  generation  may  fail  and  be  rejected, 
bat  another  may  be  raised  up  to  do  the  work  appointed,  who  will 
obey  the  revelation ;  so  is  it  taught  and  written. 

Thus  have  we  endeavored  to  draw  a  true  picture  of  the  moun- 
tain Mormons ;  —  the  view  was  taken  before  -ever  seeing  any 
history  of  their  doctrines  or  polity  by  others; — it  is  the  result 
of  observation  and  listening  to  their  teachings,  and  reading  a  few 
of  their  own  accredited  books ;~  and,  as  far  as  possible,  we  have 
endeavored  to  make  them  sketch  their  own  portrait. 


POLICY    TO*WARDS   THE    MORMONS.  87 

The  policy  of  our  own  government  in  giving  them  rulers  select- 
ed from  themselves,  is  so  just  to  them  in  their  present  condition, 
and  so  well  calculated  to  allay  their  irritated  feelings,  aroused  by 
the  injustice  and  oppression  of  the  mobs,  which  were  left  un rebuk- 
ed if  not  sanctioned  by  state  authorities,  that  it  cannot  be  too 
much  commended. 

It  has  caused  a  revulsion  of  feeling,  and  taught  them  to  make 
a  distinction  between  the  lawless  acts  of  congregated  individuals, 
and  the  governors  of  the  state,  and  the  sense  of  gratitude  and 
kindness  is  shown  by  their  lately  selecting  a  site  for  a  city  in  the 
beautiful  Parvan  valley,  in  the  county  of  Millard,  to  be  called 
Fillmore,  which  shall  be  the  civil  Capital  of  the  territory,  as  the 
Temple  City  is  the  head  quarters  and  Capital  for  the  higher 
spiritual  power.  The  magnanimity  of  a  people,  far  separated 
from  all  others,  is  thus  appealed  to,  instead  of  wounding  their 
pride, — -it  is  the  field  on  which  the  freedom  of  conscience  is  to  be 
tried ;  —  it  is  the  cause  of  political  liberty,  successfully  contended 
for  by  the  revolutionary  fathers,  in  the  estimation  of  that  portion 
of  American  citizens ;  and  under  the  permanent  law  of  Congress, 
they  ask  for  self-government  to  test  their  fealty  as  a  matter  of  right 
and  justice. 

Therefore,  we  may  be  permitted  to  say,  that  this  course  of  ju- 
dicious action  may  secure  a  law-abiding  people ;  and  soon  we  may 
expect  to  see  a  thriving,  peaceful  state  added  to  the  extending 
Union  under  the  name  of  Desere*t  —  The  Land  of  the  Honey 
Bee. 


PART   SECOND.— HISTORY. 
CHAPTER  I. 

EARLY  PERIOD  ^OF  MORMONISM. 

IN  what  has  preceded,  we  have  aimed  more  to  give  a  view  of  the 
people  of  Utah,  the  Mormons,  as  they  delineate  themselves,  than 
to  criticise  their  creed,  or  controvert  their  pretensions.  During  a 
year's  residence  among  them,  there  was  an  opportunity  of  observing 
them  impartially,  and  having  no  knowledge  of  their  doctrines  in 
advance,  their  whole  system  became  one  of  study,  unfettered  by 
prejudice.  Since  leaving  them,  curiosity  has  led  me  to  investigate 
the  motives  of  the  opposition  which  they  have  encountered,  both 
in  regard  to  their  religious  opinions  and  political  actions. 

We  find  that  they  are  regarded  by  many  as  dangerous  to  the 
state,  and  subverters  of  our  holy  religion.  The  system  is  held  up 
as  the  result  of  impudent  imposture,  and  interested  knavery. 
Their  miracles,  which  had  so  much  to  do  in  its  early  success,  are 
accounted  for  in  the  same  manner  as  those  of  the  Mesmeric  phi- 
losopher, or  those  of  a  monkish  priesthood:  —  the  performers  of 
them  perhaps  deceived  themselves  and  the  lookers-on,  duped  by  a 
deceiving  imagination,  and  led  astray  by  a  deluding  superstition. 
They  call  up  historical  facts,  and  exhibit  before  us  similar  fanati- 
cism in  all  ages  of  the  church,  in  which  whole  countries  and  com- 
munities have  been  overwhelmed  for  a  time,  and  which  passing 
away,  are  the  wonder  of  after  ages ;  and  we  come  to  the  melan- 
choly conclusion  that  nothing  is  too  absurd  when  it  assumes  the 
name  of  religion,  to  have  its  thousands  of  votaries. 

By  this  rule  of  historical  evidence, — by  the  facts  contempora- 
neous with  the  development  of  Mormonismj  are  we  called  upon  to 

(88) 


THE   BOOK   OF    MORMON.  89 

test  the  truth  of  its  origin  in  heavenly   revelation  or  successful 
human  derivation. 

The  addition  to  the  Sacred  Record,  The  Book  of  Mormon,  is 
at  the  foundation  of  the  scheme,  and  we  "will  first  see  how  it  is 
proved  to  be  the  work  of  one  of  sufficient  genius  to  produce  it; 
and  then  show  how  it  has  been  made  to  lay  so  firm  a  hold  on 
many  minds.  Its  style  and  literary  merits  are  not  parts  of  the 
question  at  all  —  we  have  only  to  observe  that  it  is  the  most  suc- 
cessful attempt  ever  made  to  imitate  the  Scriptures,  not  in  its  com- 
position, but  in  its  pretension  to  be  an  inspired  text. 

TKere  have  been  several  versions  of  the  story,  but,  after  the 
most  mature  investigation  we  have  been  enabled  to  give  to  the  sub- 
ject, the  following  seems  most  consistent  with  the  facts  yet  pub- 
lished. All  is  established  on  the  most  positive  testimony  of 
individuals  under  oath,  which  is  essential  to  the  point  at  issue. 
As  this  will  controvert  the  statements  of  the  '"  Prophet/'  Joseph 
Smith,  and  his  father's  family,  we  ask  the  opinion  of  their  neigh- 
bors whether  their  assertions  are  entitled  to  unquestioned  credit. 
Fifty-one  gentlemen  of  Palmyra,  New  York,  and  eleven  of  Man- 
chester, and  several  persons  who  lived  near  the  family  residence, 
and  often  labored  for  days  in  company  with  them,  all  testify  to 
the  same  effect  — "  that  they  consider  them  destitute  of  that  moral 
character,  which  ought  to  entitle  them  to  the  confidence  of  any 
community  —  and  particularly  that  the  senior  and  junior  Josephs, 
were  entirely  unworthy  of  belief  in  such  matters;  and  addicted  to 
vicious  habits."  They  were  visionary  men,  and  believed  that  hid- 
den treasures  were  in  the  vicinity,  and  often  employed  themselves 
in  digging  for  them  and  money.  They  u§ed  what  in  Scotland  are 
denominated  "Seer-stones/'  through  which  persons,  born  under 
peculiar  circumstances,  can  see  things  at  a  distance,  or  future 
events  passing  before  their  eyes,  or  things  buried  in  the  earth.* 
Such  a  stone  was  dug  from  a  well  by  one  Willard  Chase,  which 
was  loaned  to  the  prophet  Joseph,  and  retained  by  him,  and  with 
which  some  of  the  family  declared  he  read  in  the  Golden  Bible. 

*  Like  the  Mediaeval  Ciystallomancy. 
8* 


90  JOSEPH    SMITH   AND   HIS   FAMILY. 

In  after  times,  he  said  that,  he  used  two  stones,  set  in  the  two  rims 
of  a  bow,  the  IT  rim  and  Thummim  of  the  ancients ;  and  probably 
this  seer-stone  gave  rise  to  the  idea  that  it  would  be  a  sure  way  of 
gaining  belief.     These  stones  are  those  spoken  of  in  the  Book  of 
Mormon,  as  the  ones  touched  by  the  finger  of  God  for  the  use  of 
Jared  in  his  barges,  when  he  crossed  the  Pacific  to  settle  America. 
They  became  shining  lights  in  his  dark  vessel.     The  family  also 
used  peach  and  witch-hazel  rods,  to  detect  and  drive  off  evil  spirits, 
when  digging  for  money ;  and  such  branches  are  supposed  by  many 
to  point  out  streams  of  running  water  beneath  the  surface ;  and 
are  used  by  miners  frequently  to  find  the  lodes  of  mineral,  for  the 
currents  of  water  are  presumed  to  run  parallel  with   the  veins. 
They  take  a  forked  stick,  and  hold  a  prong  in  each  hand,  the  stem 
pointing  upward,  and  walk  about   the  field;  —  if  there  are  any 
underground  springs,  the  stick  will  turn  downward  toward  it  in 
spite  of  the  holder.     Tales  of  such  discoveries  are   told  among 
this  people,  and  firmly  believed  at  present,  not  alone  by  them,  but 
by  persons  in  every  part  of  the  country. 

It  has  already  been  mentioned  that  in  1£23,  under  the  preach- 
ing of  a  Methodist  elder,  the  "prophet,"  as  we  shall  continue  to 
call  Joseph,  and  his  father's  family,  were  converted  or  excited,  in 
a  "revival  of  religion."  This  resulted  in  giving  a  portion  to  the 
Presbyterians,  but  leaving  the  prophet  greatly  perplexed  among 
the  rival  sects,  who  were  striving  to  enlist  the  converts  under  some 
particular  banner.  In  viewing  "this  struggle  for  the  spoils  of 
victory,"  his  original  mind  took  the  idea  that  there  was  but  little 
to  choose  between  them,  and  that  all  matters  wrangled  upon  w^re 
mere  opinions.  Yet  he  could  see  that  there  was  a  religious 
element  in  the  human  character,  which  was  apt  to  be  swayed  by 
the  circumstances  surrounding  the  individual.  On  that  little 
theatre  were  shown  the  scenes  attending  the  preaching  of  Peter 
the  Hermit,  the  enthusiasm  of  the  disciples  of  Matthias  of 
Munster,  on  a  diminished  scale;  but  enough  to  exhibit  the 
tendency  of  fanaticism  and  mystic  feeling  in  a  multitude.  And 
he  did  not  fail  to  observe  that  a  permanent  influence  remained 
when  the  exciting  causes  were  over  —  that  some  would  continue 


VISION   OF   JOSEPH   SMITH.  91 

their  course,  and  search  out  reasons  to  substantiate  their  notions, 
instead  of  testing  them  in  cool  judgment,  their  pride  or  theii 
vanity  being  enlisted — others,  feeling  a  depression  of  spirits,  would 
unite  in  social  gatherings  and  rouse  what  they  called  "a  happy 
feeling/'  by  harangues  and  vociferous  prayers  —  and  not  a  few 
would  join  in  the  popular  current  to  be  with  their  friends,  and 
enjoy  variety  and  novelty. 

During  this  rivalry  of  the  sects,  also,  their  peculiar  views  were 
freely  discussed,  of  course,  and  to  one  so  observant,  their 
theological  notions,  supported  each  by  Bible  Commentaries,  were 
well  digested  by  Joseph.  Could  a  compounded  system  be  deduced 
from  them  that  would  suit  a  majority  of  minds,  and  their  attention 
joined  to  it,  the  task  of  founding  a  "new  church/'  would  not 
seem  a  very  great  work  to  one  who  looked  upon  each  of  those 
bodies  bearing  the  name,  as  equally  a  true  one,  or  only  organiza- 
tions for  carrying,  out  human  purposes.  Judging  from  what  he 
says  in  his  autobiography,  ideas  of  this  kind  now  took  possession 
of  his  mind,  on  which  he  systematically  acted  during  the  remainder 
of  his  career.  He  informs  us  that  he  engaged  in  earnest  prayer 
for  enlightenment.  He  rose  at  night  and  continued  his  supplica- 
tions. In  September  of  that  year,  when  all  else  was  hushed  in 
sleep,  his  prayers  were  answered  by  a  heavenly  vision.  An  angel 
in  all  the  splendor  of  light,  radiating  from  his  head,  with  eyes  of 
lambent  flame,  and  hair  like  fleecy  wool,  &tood  before  him.  His 
message  was  that  Joseph  should  gird  himself  for  the  work  of  the 
Lord,  and  go  forth  among  men  and  restore  His  church.  No  doubt 
he  had  a  remarkable  dream  that  night,  waking  or  sleeping  -r-  for 
though  the  vision  was  repeated  in  the  most  resplendent  manner, 
and  important  revelations  given  concerning  the  manner  of  found- 
ing a  "new  church/'  and  information  upon  the  subject  of  hidden 
records  on  plates  of  gold  in  the  vicinity  —  yet  he  informs  us  that 
he  "went  about  Jais  work  as  usual  on  the  following  morning." 
The  conception  of  the  plan  might  well  be  called  his  "  brilliant 
glory : "  in  figurative  language  original  thoughts  are  visiting  angels, 
and  mature  reflections  heavenly  counsellors.  There  was  a  floating 
story  abroad  that  a  golden  Bible  had  been  found  in  Canada,  and 


92  SMITH   MARRIES    MISS   HALE. 

many  little  circumstances  conspired  soon,  to  give  consistency  to 
what  was  then  planned  for  a  future  development. 

About  this  period  Joseph  leaves  his  father's  residence,  and  for 
four  years  was  passing  to,  and  fro  between  Wayne,  New  York, 
and  Susquehanna  counties,  Pennsylvania.  The  first  two  years  are 
much  involved  in  mystery;  the  autobiography  helps  us  to  little 
knowledge  of  the  manner  in  which  they  were  passed  on  the  line 
of  travels  and  sojourns  in  the  counties  of  Onondaga  and  Chenango, 
though  it  is  asserted  that  his  name  can  be  found  on  the  criminal 
records,  having  been  arrested  as  a  vagabond.  He  acquired  great 
reputation  for  money-digging.  A  man  by  the  name  of  Stowell,  in 
Bainbridge,  New  York,  employed  him  to  dig  for  hidden  treasure 
in  the  neighborhood.  Some  legends  of  the  wandering  Spaniards 
from  De  Soto's  band,  and  the  wealth  of  the  aboriginal  inhabitants 
buried  on  the  banks  of  the  Susquehanna,  had  fired  the  imagina- 
tions of  the  old  Dutchman,  and  a  company  was  in  search  of  the 
untold  wealth.  The  seer-stone  and  the  mineral  rod  were  already 
familiar  to  Joseph,  and  his  pretensions  and  frequent  search  caused 
him  to  be  called  the  "  money-digger/' 

While  laboring  in  his  profession  at  Harmony,  Pennsylvania, 
he  became  acquainted  with  Miss  Hale,  and  persuaded  her  to  elope 
with  him,  and  they  were  clandestinely  married.  Previous  to  this, 
however,  he  had  made  a  journey  home,  and  there  reported  that 
silver  ore  was  to  be  had  on  the  Susquehanna,  and  induced  one 
Laurence  to  carry  him  back,  promising  to  share  with  him  in  an 
enterprise  to  fill  a  boat  with  ore,  and  carry  it  to  Philadelphia.  On 
searching  for  the  mine,  it  could  not  be  found,  and  the  man  went 
back  disappointed.  In  1826,  Joseph  again  duped  his  friend 
Stowell,  by  telling  him  that  he  had  discovered,  near  his  father's 
residence,  a  bar  of  gold  in  a  cave,  and  offered  to  go  and  cut  it  off 
with  a  chisel,  and  give  him  one  half  of  it,  if  Stowell  would  move 
him  and  wife  to  Wayne  County.  Though  all  former  trials  had 
failed,  the  honest  old-  fellow  consented,  and  with  his  stout  team 
carried  him  back;  but  then  Joseph  refused  to  leave  his  bride 
among  strangers,  and  the  Dutchman  returned  to  his  home  to 
cultivate  his  cabbages,  and  to  regret  once  more  the  "golden 


AUTHORSHIP  OF  THE  BOOK  OF  MORMON.         93 

opportunity"  lost.  This  is  the  substance  of  the  history  of  tho 
time  between  the  first  angelic  apparition  and  the  announcement 
that  the  plates  had  been  delivered  him  by  the  angel,  and  the 
translation  begun. 

The  whole  explication  of  the  .Book  of  Mormon  hangs  on  the 
satisfactory  solution  of  a  few  obscure  points  in  the  following  cir- 
cumstances. A  Eomance  to  show  the  manner  of  peopling  Amer- 
ica by  some  Jews  and  the  "lost  ten  tribes  of  Israel;"  the  wars, 
and  economy  of  living  among  their  descendants,  and  the  division 
into  tribes  as  they  were  found  in  our  Indians  at  the  discovery  by 
Columbus,  is  known  to  have  been  written  by  the  late  Eev.  Mr. 
Spalding  at  Conneaut,  Ohio.  This  was  just  previous  to  1812,  and 
his  brother  testifies  that  their  "  arts,  sciences  and  civilization  were 
brought  into  view,  in  order  to  account  for  all  the  curious  antiquities 
found  in  various  parts  of  North  and  South  America."  A  clear 
idea  of  the  work  can  be  had  from  the  affidavit  of  Mr.  Henry  Lake, 
given  at  Conneaut,  in  1833,  which  is  corroborated  by  abundant 
other  testimony. 

He  affirms  :  "  I  left  the  state  of  New  York  in  the  year  of  1810, 
and  arrived  in  this  place,  about  the  first  of  January  following. 
Soon  after  my  arrival  I  formed  a  copartnership  with  Solomon 
Spalding  *  •*.*.  He  frequently  read  to  me  from  a  manuscript 
which  he  was  writing,  and  which  he  entitled  the  «•  Manuscript 
Found,"  which  he  represented  as  being  found  in  this  town.  I 
spent  many  hours  in  hearing  him  read  said  writings ;  and  became 
acquainted  with  their  contents.  He  wished  me  to  assist  him  in 
getting  it  printed,  alleging  that  a  book  of  that  kind  would  meet 
with  a  rapid  sale.  This  book  represented  the  American  Indians 
as  the  lost  ^tribes,  gave  an  account  of  their  leaving  Jerusalem,  their 
contentions  and  wars,  which  were  many  and  great.  One  time, 
when  he  was  reading  to  me  the  tragic  account  of  Laban,  I  pointed 
out  to  him  what  I  considered  an  inconsistency,  which  he  promised 
to  .correct ;  but  by  referring  to  the  Book  of  Mormon,  I  find  to  my 
surprise  it  stands  there,  just  as  he  read  it  to  IPC  then.  Some 
months  ago  I  borrowed  a  golden  Bible,  *  *  *  had  not  read 
minutes  before  I  was  astonished  to  find  the  same  passages 


94  WANDERINGS    OF    THE    MANUSCRIPT. 

that  Spalding  had  read  to  me,  more  than  twenty  years  before,  from 
his  "Manuscript  Found/'  Since  then,  I  have  more  fully  exam- 
ined the  said  golden -bible,  and  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that 
the  historical  part  of  it  is  principally,  if  not  wholly,  taken  from 
the  "Manuscript  Found."  I  well  recollect  telling  Mr.  Spalding 
that  the  too  frequent  use  of  the  words,  "  Now  it  came  to  pass," 
il  And  it  came  to  pass,"  rendered  it  ridiculous.  Spalding  left  here 
in  1812,  and  I  furnished  him  with  the  means  to  carry  him  to 
Pittsburg,  where  he  said  he  would  get  the  book  printed  and  pay 
me.  But  I  never  heard  any  thing  more  from  him,  or  of  his  wri- 
tings, till  I  saw  them  in  the  Book  of  Mormon." 

The  same  in  effect  is  the  evidence  of  the  brother  of  Spalding, 
that  he  heard  much  of  the  "Manuscript"  read,  and  that,  accord- 
ing to  his  best  recollection,  "The  Book  of  Mormon  is  the  same 
as  my  brother  Solomon  wrote,  with  the  exception  of  the  religious 
matter."  All  this  is  confirmed  by  more  than  half  a  dozen  other 
gentlemen,  and  by  the  widow  and  daughter  of  the  author  of  "  Man- 
uscript Found."  It  was  also  made  known  that  a  change  in  his 
original  design  was  made.  At  first  the  Romance  began,  by  fitting 
out  the  emigrant  Jews  at  Rome,  and  a  cjaire  of  paper  was  written ; 
—  but  not  liking  that  origin,  he  started  from  Jerusalem,  with 
Lehi  and  his  four  sons,  as  the  leaders  of  the  enterprise,  under 
divine  instruction. 

We  have  followed  the  Manuscript  Found  to  Pittsburg;  its  fur- 
ther traces  a"re  not  so  palpable.  It  has  been  supposed  it  was  left 
with  the  printer  Lambdiu,  and  that  Sidney  Rigdon  was  employed 
to  edit  it  for  the  press;  and  that,  by  collusion  with  Smith,  whose 
money-digging  reputation  was  notorious,  the  miraculous  plan  of 
translation  was  concerted.  Subsequent  events  discredit  this  sup- 
position. The  author  of  the  Manuscript  left  Pittsburg  in  1814, 
and  two  years  afterwards  died  in  the  southern  part  of  Pennsylva- 
nia. His  widow,  shortly  after  this  event,  removed  to  Onondaga 
county,  New  York,  near  to  her  early  residence,  and  carried  a  trunk 
thither,  containing  the  writings  of  her  deceased  husband.  She 
spent  much  of  her  time  for  three  years  in  visiting  her  friends  in 
adjoining  counties,  and  resided  awhile  at  Hart-wick,  not  far  from 


THE   DESTINY   OF   THE    MANUSCRIPT.  95 

the  home  of  the  Stowell  above  mentioned.  During  a  part  of  the 
time  from  1817  to  1820,  when  she  again  married  and  moved  to 
Massachusetts,  the  trunk,  supposed  to  contain  the  writings,  was  at 
her  brother's  in  Onondaga  Hollow,  near  the  residence  of  the 
Smith  family; — Wayne  and  Offondaga  counties  being  separated 
by  a  narrow  township  of  land. 

When  the  Book  of  Mormon  appeared,  and  its  almost  identity 
with  the  Manuscript  was  discovered  by  those  familiar  with  the  lat- 
ter, enquiry  was  made  for  the  whereabouts  of  that  paper.  It  had 
mysteriously  disappeared,  and  the  "  Manuscript  Found  "  has  ever 
since  been  the  Manuscript  lost.  The  trunk  was  hunted  up  and 
searched,  but  only  the  quire  of  paper  with  the  Roman  exodus 
was  in  it;  out  of  all  that  it  formerly  contained,  this  alone  was  left. 
How  the  Manuscript  could  have  been  taken  out,  and  when,  re- 
mains a  mystery,  and  probably  ever  will  remain  unknown.  Like 
the  history  of  the  first  Mormon  Seer,  the  transits  of  that  trunk  can 
hardly  now  be  traced  in  those  same  counties  of  Chenango,  Otsego, 
and  Onondaga, —  and  what  process  was  going  on  in  the  interiors 
of  each,  is  left  to  conjecture.  But  a  curious  coincidence  of  dates 
and  habitations  exists  between  them,  which  subsequent  develop- 
ments connect  together. 

From  these  circumstances,  just  hinted  at  in  the  above  account, 
it  seems  fair  to  conclude,  that  the  Manuscript  Found  escaped  from 
its  prison  and  perched  upon  some  farmer's  shelf;  or  fell  direct,  by 
accident  or  design,  into  the  hands  of  Joseph  Smith,  and  opportune- 
ly met  the  mind  that  could  mould  it  into  a  religious  fiction.  Much  * 
has  been  said  of  his  stupidity  and  illiterate  character ;  but  no  doubt 
these  qualities,  if  a  negation  may  be  so  denominated,  are  great- 
ly exaggerated.  Like  the  cobbler  at  his  Pilgrim's  Progress,  peo- 
ple took  the  profession  and  scholastic  lore  of  the  man  as  the  mea- 
sure of  his  genius.  But  what  is  genius?  and  -who  will  venture 
to  define  it?  Its  effects  we  see,  and  turn  aside  from  the  hum- 
drum of  life  to  observe  how  it  rivets  the  attention  of  many  to  its 
artistic  creations,  and  whirls  them  out  of  the  eddies  of  their  own 
thoughts  and  opinions  into  the  onward  current, — to  think  and  be- 
lieve in  those  of  the  author. 


96  JOSEPH  SMITH'S  VIEWS. 

Here  is  a  book  that  takes  fast  hold  of  the  minds  of  hundreds 
of  thousands,  and  so  skilfully  arranged  on  the  model  of  the  true 
Bible,  and  so  garnished  with  versions  and  extracts  of  its^text, 
that  it  becomes  to  them  a  verisimilitude  of  the  Holy  Book  itself. 
Such  wonderful  influence  is  not  due  to  those  extracts  alone,  which 
constitute  one  eighteenth  part  of  the  whole;  but  rather  to  the  inge- 
nious arrangement  of  its  plot,  and  the  decided  non-committalism 
to  any  sect  of  Christians  or  prominent  doctrine ;  if  we  except  the 
mode  of  administering  the  rite  of  baptism  in  the  Nephite  churches. 

Nor  was  that  a  stupid  man  who  could  wield  the  powers  of  life 
and  death  over  a  multitude  in  an  enlightened  age  and  community, 
and  cause  his  memory  to  be  revered  by  the  sincere,  and  gain  in 
their  estimation  the  proud  position  of  being  "the  most  perfect 
man  and  powerful  mind  we  ever  saw;"  for  such  an  eulogium  have 
we  often  heard. 

He  had  a  religious  turn  of  mind,  and  at  the  "great  revival"  an 
impression  was  surely  made,  the  stamp  of  which  was  never 
effaced  from  his  character.  He  emerged  from  the  conflicting  waves 
of  various  religious  opinions  and  visionary  speculations  raging 
around  him ;  and  sought  to  arrange  a  system  that  would  suit  all 
minds,  and  draw  them  into  one  communion.  His  associations 
were  vulgar,  but  such  as  made  him  acquainted  with  the  weak  side 
of  humanity.  He  early  saw  that  numbers  were  of  more  conse- 
quence than  intellectual  attainments  in  the  sects,  in  point  of 
influence.  It  is  a  prime  point  to  enlist  the  less  cultivated  many, 
which  at  last  invariably  carries  the  unstable  part  of  the  cultivated 
few ;  who,  if  they  do  not  yield  a  full  acquiescence,  are  willing  to 
be  reckoned  of  the  host,  and  think  to  lead  by  non-resistance. 

The  first  idea  must  have  been  to  make  a  book  that  should 
account  for  the  peopling  of  America,  and  the  ruins  that  are 
spread  over  much  of  its  surface,  showing  evidences  of  a  former 
civilization.  Various  theories  were  afloat  on  this  mysterious 
subject.  That  of  Jewish  origin  is  an  old  one.  The  traditions 
collected  from  the  Indians  and  compared  with  the  Asiatic  —  the 
disappearance  of  the  ten  tribes,  and  Hebrew  notions  among  the 
aborigines  —  the  discovery  of  ruined  cities  and  temples  in  Central 


PREPARATIONS    FOR   PUBLISHING.  97 

America  —  the  relics  of  pottery,  bricks,  and  stumps  of  axe-cut 
trees,  buried  far  beneath  the  surface  of  the  Mississippi  valley — all 
had  conspired  to  arouse  curiosity.  The  book  that  should  gain  the 
credit  of  elucidating  these  subjects  would  be  highly  remunerative. 

But  some  slight  incidents  occurring  while  such  thoughts  were 
revolving  in  his  mind,  gave  a  further  and  wider  grasp  to  the  plan. 
The  biblical  language  of  the  manuscript,  and  the  report  then 
abroad  that  a  gold  Bible  had  been  dug  up  in  Canada,  suggested 
the  idea  of  calling  it  a  Bible.  In  crossing  a  swampy  grove,  he 
found  some  pure  white  sand  one  day,  left  by  a  retiring  freshet ; 
and  he  wrapped  up  a  specimen  in  his  frock,  and  carried  it  home. 
The  family  were  at  dinner.  He  announced  to  them  that  he  had 
found  a  gold  Bible.  They  seemed  to  believe  him,  and  asked  to 
see  it.  He  gravely  said  that  the  angel  forbade,  for  the  person  who 
should  look  upon  it  without  authority  should  die.  He  was 
credited,  and  a  few  days  after  told  a  neighbor  that  he  "  had  fixed 
the  fools,  and  would  have  some  fun."  By  this  he  saw  the  family 
were  ready  for  any  imposture. 

The  plan  being  laid,  and  the  manuscript  in  his  possession  in 
some  way  that  he  did  not  fear  detection,  he  must  then  have 
determined  to  alter  it  to  suit  his  own  conceptions,  from  which  a 
golden  harvest  was  anticipated.  It  must  have  been  with  him,  and 
secreted  at  the  first  visit  to  his  father's  house  in  1826 }  for,  at  that 
time,  all  of  them  set  various  rumors  afloat,  and  very  contradictory 
ones  indeed,  about  a  book  found  in  the  ground — and  the  complete 
history  of  its  supernatural  origin  was  not  given  until  after  its 
publication.  The  lucky  accidents  might  well  be  considered  by 
him  as  his  providences,  and  the  kindness  of  a  good  angel. 

The  next  attempt  was  on  the  credulity  of  Martin  Harris,  a 
miserly,  visionary  man,  who  had  been  a  member  successively  of 
several  denominations.  Meeting  him,  he  abruptly  told  him  that 
the  Lord  had  commanded  him  to  advance  fifty  dollars  to  begin  the 
work  of  translation,  and  represented  the  great  rewards  to  follow. 
Harris's  cupidity  gave  credit,  if  his  judgment  of  the  divine 
mission  was  staggered.  With  this  money  the  last  visit  to 
Harmony  was  made,  and  on  his  return  the  work  commenced,  and 
9 


98  SMITH   PREPARES   THE    MANUSCRIPT. 

Harris  became  the  scribe  for  a '  few  weeks ;  and  like  Baruch  for 
Jeremiah,  "  he  wrote  the  words  as  he  pronounced  them  with  his 
mouth. "  Harris  became  fully  committed,  furnished  the  means 
of  publication,  by  which  he  was  pecuniarily  ruined,  preached  the 
doctrine  three  years,  and  finally  deserted  what  to  him  was  a 
foundered  ark.  Harris  was  shortly  substituted  by  a  better 
scholar,  Oliver  Cowdery,  a  schoolmaster,  who  wrote  out  the  five 
hundred  octavo  pages,  and  became  one  of  the  witnesses  to  its 
divine  origin,  though  he  too  failed  and  dissented  in  after  times. 

The  manner  of  writing  was  as  follows:  Smith  would  place  his 
pseudo  gold  plates  in  a  hat,  and  take  the  stones,  Urim  and  Thum- 
mim,  which  he  affirmed  had  been  delivered  to  him  at  the  hill 
Cumora,  in  Palmyra,  by  an  •  angel — and,  raising  a  screen  of  cloth 
between  himself  and  the  scribe,  proceed  to  look  through  the  stones, 
and  the  words,  in  reformed  Egyptian  characters,  would  change  to 
his  vernacular,  and  "pass  before  his  eyes  .by 'the  power  and  gift 
of  God."  He  either  concealed  portions  of  the  manuscript,  or 
committed  them  to  memory  before  beginning  the  daj's  work,  and 
thus  dictated  to  his  amanuensis. 

He  gives  us  a  graphic -account  of  the  first  persecution  by  his  neigh- 
bors, who  tried  to  capture  the  "gold  plates" — and  to  escape  from 
this,  he  concealed  them  in  a  barrel  of  beans  and  started  for  Penn- 
sylvania again.  A  writ  for  debt  was  served  on  him  tinder  a  pre- 
tence, and  he  was  overtaken  and  searched  by  the  sheriff,  but  the 
functionary  of  the  law  was  not  bright  enough  to  penetrate  among 
the  beans,  or  we  should  probably  have  to  record  a  successful  dis- 
covery of  the  Spalding  manuscript.  •  In  Harmony,  the 'translation 
was  pursued  vigorously  —  and  in  three  years  the  work  was  sent 
to  the  press.  This  time  includes  the  ten  months'  suspension,  on 
account  of  the  abstraction  of  several  sheets  of  the  work  by  Mrs. 
Harris,  who  could  not  be  induced  by  threat  or  cajolement  to  give 
them  up.  In  order  to  evade  this,  the  work  is  not  what  was  first 
intended  by  the  JLord  :  —  and  he  received  commandment  to  trans- 
late from  an  abridgment  of  the  Plates  of  Nephi,  instead  of  those 
of  Lehi.  It  was  revealed  to  him,  that  if  he  retranslated  from  the 
same  plates,  Satan  would  alter  the  first  and  publish  them,  and, 


VIEWS   ON   THE   JEWS   AND   INDIANS.  99 

being  different,  it  would  discredit  the  performance;  but  he  was 
severely  reprimanded  for  negligence  in  a  revelation,  and  Cowdery 
sharply  rebuked  for  impertinent  curiosity,  in  wishing  to  see  the 
golden  plates,  which  was  the  prophets'  privilege  only. 

But  let  us  return  to  the  consideration  of  the  plan  in  view  by 
this  great  work.  There  was  a  higher  object  than  the  making  of 
money  by  it ;  —  and  another  purpose,  beyond  harmonizing  the 
Christian  world. 

The  grand  scheme  was  to  convince  the  Jews  in  all  the  world 
that  "  Jesus  is  the  Christ/'  their  long-expected  Messiah,  as  fore- 
told by  their  ancient  prophets.  Accordingly,  we  find  the  prophe- 
cies here  made  perfectly  plain.  As  Cyrus  is  spoken  of  in  Isaiah 
by  name  long  before  his  advent,  so  the  name  and  office  of  the 
Savior  is  declared  by  the  Nephite  seers. 

Nor  was  this  all.  The  Indians  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  land  were  to  be  informed  of  their  origin, —  the 
cause  of  the  divine  wrath  explained  which  had  sunk  them  in  degra- 
dation';-—  and  that  "in  the  last  days  "".they  could  recover  pristine 
favor,  and  again,  become  a  "fair  and  delightsome  -people,"  enjoy- 
ing temporal  salvation  and  eternal  happiness.  Could  he  succeed 
in  making  these  two  peoples  believe  in  his  book  as  a  divine  record, 
their  conversion  to  Christianity  was  certain  to  follow.  Nor  was 
this  thing  beneath  a  soaring  ambition,  and  its  success  would  now 
place  its  author  on  the  pinnacle  of  fame, —  and  the  object  to  have 
been  obtained  was  therefore  a  good  one,  whatever  we  may  think 
of  the  deception  attempted  to  be  practised. 

Even  now  do  the  Mormon  missionaries  apply  to  Jewish  Rabbis, 
and  ask  them  to  listen  to  the  voice  of  the  gentile  prophet,  whose 
blood  they  aver  has  sealed  the  truth  of  his  mission.  We  have 
lately  seen  the  account  of  such  a  meeting  at  Amsterdam,  but  the 
Jew  stands  yet  unconvinced  and  holds  to  his  traditions ;  the  In- 
dian listens  to  "the  talk"  about  the  Great  Spirit,  and  returns  to 
the  chase  unconverted;  —  all  these  seem  to  view  the  matter  as 
the  fiction  of  an  enthusiast. 

The  idea  of  founding  a  church  with  the  new  Seer  as  chief,  does 
not,  however,  appear  to  have  been  entertained,  until  just  before 


100  ORGANIZATION   OF   THE    MORMON   CHURCH. 

the  printing  the  Book  of  Mormon.  This  was  .issued  in  1830,  and 
purports  to  give  additional  revelations  of  the  dealings  of  God  with 
his  people,  in  the  records  that  had  been  "  hid  up  some  fourteen 
hundred  years  before  for  preservation,  but  written  for  the  Lama- 
nites  [Indians]  a  remnant  of  the  house  of  Israel,  and  for  Jew  and 
Gentile,  by  the  spirit  of  prophecy  and  revelation;  to  come  forth, 
in  due  time,  by  way  of  Gentile  *  *  *  to  the  convincing  of  Jew 
and  Gentile,  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  the  Eternal  God."  This  ex- 
tract from  the  preface  shows  fully  its  character  and  purpose. 

On  the  6th  of  April  of  this  year,  the  church,  out  of  the  Gen- 
tiles, was  organized.  There  were  but  six  members  thus  formed 
into  the  society,  of  which  were,  his  father,  and  two  brothers,  and 
Cowdery,  his  scribe.  From  that  time  forth  the  Smith  family  rose 
from  poverty  to  opulence.  But  nothing  has  fallen  under  our 
notice  to  show  that  the  present  hierarchy  was  then  contemplated. 
Joseph  was  the  first  Elder,  and  Cowdery  the  second.  In  progress 
of  time  this  expanded  into  two  priesthoods;  namely,  the  Melchisedek 
the  Eternal  one,  which  had  two  orders,  the  high  priests  and  priests 
out  of  which  was  taken  the  Apostles  and  Council ;  —  and  the 
Aaronic,  arranged  into  the  various  orders  of  elders,  bishops,  dea- 
cons, teachers,  and  so  on.  This  is  now  the  asserted  imitation  of 
the  Primitive  Apostolic  Church,  but  if  there  is  any  resemblance 
of  the  office  attached  to  the  like  names,  we  have  seen  no  proof  yet 
given. 

It  is  related  that  Cowdery  first  baptised  the  prophet,  and  then 
the  church  had  one  commissioned  to  act;  —  and  in  the  Book  of 
Covenants  the  sponsors  given  are  no  less  than  the  angels  or  spirits 
of  Moses  and  Elias,  and  the  Presidency  of  the  first  Christian 
church,  Peter,  James,  and  St.  John  in  his  own  body,  as  he  has 
never  died.  The  "commissioned"  prophet,  now  baptised  and 
"  commissioned  "  Elders,  who  began  their  enthusiastic  preaching, 
and  converted  several  visionary  characters,  persons  without  settled 
notions  of  theology,  and  likely  to  be  carried  away  by  the  last  fer- 
vid, popular  harangue  that  should  be  addressed  to  them.  Whole 
families  were  thus  captivated,  and  the  "  New  Revelation  "  and 
revival  of  the  Old  Church  made  much  noise  in  the  neighboring 


ACCESSIONS   TO   THE   FAITH.  101 

counties;  and  in  a  few  months  branches  were  organized  in  Fayette 
and  Colesville,  bodies  which  were  mere  associations  however. 

In  the  following  August  a  Campbellite  preacher,  and  one  of  some 
notoriety  in  Ohio,  who  was  preaching  notions  and  holding  views  of 
prophecy,  restoration  of  the  children  of  Israel  and  the  Millennium, 
similar  to  those  still  taught  in  the  Mormon  society,  made  a  visit  to 
the  State  of  New  York  and  accidentally  met  with  the  Book  of 
Mormon,  and  became  convinced  of  its  authenticity.  This  was 
the  eloquent  speaker,  the  pious  song-poet,  the  enthusiastic  Apos- 
tle, Parly  P.  Pratt.  He  is  the  author  of  many  books  of  doctrine 
and  history  of  persecutions  among  his  people ;  and  among  those 
books  is  the  a  Voice  of  Warning  to  all  Nations,"  which  has  done 
more  in  giving  texts  and  establishing  Mormonism  than  all  the 
other  publications  of  that  people.  This  man  is  at  present  the 
chief  of  the  "  Stakes  "  in  the  Pacific  islands.  On  his  return  to 
Ohio  he  presented  the  new  bible  to  the  still  more  enthusiastic  and 
famed  (e  Reformed  Disciple,"  the  ingenious  and  versatile  Sidney 
Rigdon.  He  too  adopted  the  new  system ;  visited  the  Prophet 

.  and  returned  to  call  his  society  together,  and  then  in  a  two  hours' 
discourse  of  fervid  eloquence,  eloquent  to  those  hearers,  he  expos- 
tulated, instructed,  explained,  and  converted  them;  —  he  wept 
tears  of  sorrow  and  of  joy  over  them,  fell  into  swoons  several 
times,  and  related  visions  of  heaven  to  them.  They  became  real 
fanatics. 

It  must  be  noted  here  that  Rigdon  had  for  three  years  already 

-taught  the  literal  interpretation  of  scripture  prophecies,  the 
gathering  of  the  Israelites  to  receive  the  second  coming,  the  ' 
literal  reign  of  the  Saints  on  earth,  and  the  use  of  miraculous 
gifts- in  the  church.  From  that  visit  of  his  to  Joseph,  do  we  date 
the  Mormon  organization  of  a  church;  In  the  conversations  with 
Rigdpn,  the  dawn  of  the  morning  gave  place  io  the  full  light  of 
the  Sun,  in  the  mind  of  its  founder.  Nothing  yet, had  been 
written  which  forbade  any  method  of  discipline  deemed  expedient 
for  the  society;  nor  concerning  doctrines  which  might  not  be 
interpreted  to  suit  any  circumstances.  Accordingly  we  find  "the 
Revelations"  assuming  a  definite  form.  Rigdon  is  appointed 
9* 


102  EXCITED   MEETINGS. 

expounder,  and  assigned  an  important  post  in  the  church;  and 
soon  is  made  the  second  person  and  great  counsellor.  But,  in 
fact,  he  was  the  first  in  matters  of  theology,  and  wrote  the  Lectures 
on  Faith,  which  preface  the  Book  of  Covenants  and  Doctrines, 
which  were  adopted  by  Smith,  who  purports  to  be  the  author,  on 
the  title-page.  Since  the  apostasy  of  Bigdon,  the  faithful  declare 
that  he  was  once  mighty  in  the  faith,  and  a  bright  star  in  Zion, 
but,  like  Lucifer,  has  awfully  fallen. 

The  conference  of  those  two  peculiar  minds,  spoken  of  above, 
was  held  in  the  autumn.  In  January  following,  a  revelation  is 
given,  commanding  those  in  the  east  to  remove  to  the  place  which 
Bigdon  had  long  since  declared  was  on  the  borders  of  the  "in- 
heritance of  the  Saints,  which  extended  thence  to  the  Pacific/' 
The  prophet  and  his  people  removed  to  Kirtland,  Ohio,  where 
Pratt  and  Bigdon  had  already  a  society  of  over  a  thousand  to  re- 
ceive them.  New  ardor  and  energy  were  infused,  and  such  won- 
derful tales  of  visions,  voices,  and  miracles  were  spread  abroad,  that 
people  flocked  from  all  parts  of  the  lake  region  to  witness 'and 
judge  of  this  new  thing.  There  were  extacies — men  and  women 
falling  to  the  floor  in  the  public  assemblies,  wallowing,  rolling,  and 
tossing  of  hands  —  pointing  into  the  heavens  at  the  "cloud  of 
witnesses"  —  uttering  Indian  dialects,  and  declaring  that  they 
would  immediately  convert  them  —  there  was  swooning — rushing 
out  of  doors  and  running  to  the  fields,  some  would  mount  stones 
and  stumps,  and  speak  in  loud  "  tongues ;"  some  would  pick  up 
the  stones  and  read  from  characters  of  writing,  which  were 
miraculously  made,  and  then  suddenly  disappeared — others  found 
pieces  of  parchment  falling  upon  them,  which  they  declared  were 
sealed  with  the  seal  of  Christ,  and  which  they  no  sooner  copied 
than  they  vanished.  The  utmost  excitement  prevailed  in  their 
meetings,  and  it  was  all  attributed  to  "the  outpouring  of  the 
Spirit."  The  prophet  himself  seems  to  have  become  alarmed  lest 
the  "vision"  should  pass  from  him,  and  the  vocation  of  Seer  and 
Bevelator  become  equally  that  of  all.  Accordingly  he  began  to 
preach  moderation,  and  finally  informed  them  that  it  was  the  work 
of  the  devil,  who  was  counterfeiting  the  gifts  of  the  Spirit;  and 


REVELATION   TO   SMITH.  103 

the  faithful  were  cautioned  to  beware.  Another  revelation  soon 
followed.  This  made  the  spiritual  duties  of  the  "  Seer "  so 
onerous,  that  he  was  told  that  strength  to  work  would  not  be  given 
him.  He  was  to  live  "by  the  church/'  and  through  him  alone 
was  to  come  all  the  counsel  of  wisdom,  and  ghostly  strength  for 
the  enlightenment  of  the  same.  He  was  privileged  to  converse 
with  angels.  All  must  obey  him  as  the  voice  of  the  Most  High, 
when  the  message  was  with  the  prefix  "  Thus  saith  the  Lord/' 
under  the  penalty  of  the  Divine  wrath. 


CHAPTER  II. 

VARIOUS  SETTLEMENTS,  AND  PROGRESS. 

IF  the  impulsiveness  of  the  swooning  Rigdon  drove  him  occa- 
sionally to  excess,  in  cooler  moments  he  was  the  advocate  of  order 
and  system.  His  was  a  restless  character,  between  extremes. 
But  the  geniusT>f  Smith  was  a  match  for  his  ardor.  In  order  to 
divert  his  attention  and  keep  him  in  the  traces,  new  and  other 
work  was  carved  out.  A  revelation  is  given  in  June,  by  which 
the  principal  elders,  in  parties  of  two,  are  directed  west,  to  preach 
by  the  way  and  in  the  cities  along  their  routes ;  and  by  a  fixed 
time  to  meet  on  the  borders  of  the  Missouri.  This  mission  was 
for  selecting  a  site  for  a  temple  in  the  "land  of  Zion/'  and  to 
found  a  city  to  be  called  Zion,  the  New  Jerusalem  of  the  Saints. 
This  part  of  the  country  was  chosen  with  great  attention  to  its 
beauty  of  location,  richness  of  soil,  and  all  the  requisites  of  a 
great  empire.  The  point  selected  was  near  Independence,  and 
where  they  were  informed  "from  heaven/7  Adam's  altar  was  built, 
and  in  the  very  centre  of  the  Garden  of  Eden.  Here  it  was 
supposed  they  could  expand  unmolested,  and  convert  the  sparse 
population  over  to  their  views,  or  buy  out  any  unconvinced  of  the 
propriety  of  joining  them.  They  sadly  mistook  the  character  of 
the  pioneers  -of  civilization,  as  the  sequel  proved. 

The  site  for  a  city  was  selected,  the  land  consecrated,  and  they 
proceeded  to  lay  the  corner-stone  of  the  temple  amid  the  beautiful 
groves  which  witnessed  the  Druidical  pageantry.  Here  was  to  be 
the  grand  centre  of  gathering,  and  all  other  places  of  similar 
organization  were  to  be  called  "Stakes  of  Zion" — here  was  the 
place  where  the  kings  of  the  earth  were  to  bring  their  wealth,  and 
the  streets  were  to  be  paved  with  gold  and  precious  stones.  But 
as  yet  the  "  stakes"  only  flourish,  while  the  consecrated  "  Zion  " 

(104) 


THE   MORMONS   PERSECUTED.  105 

lies  silent  in  the  umbrageous  forest  groves  on  the  banks  of  the 
great  Missouri.  "  The  everlasting  residence", is  yet  uninhabited, 
and  "the  abodes  of  plenty  and  peace,"  the  "joy  of  the  whole 
earth ,"  lie,  as  yet,  in  the  peaceful  silence  of  the  wilderness. 

The  three  hundred  missionaries  forwarded  their  converts  hither, 
and  there  was  soon  collected  over  1200  in  Jackson  County 
and  the  vicinity,  buying  lands  and  cultivating  them  peaceably. 
The  heads  of  the  church  returned,  shortly  after  the  ceremony  of 
laying  the  .corner-stone,  to  Shinehar,  as  they  now  named  the 
Kirtland  "  stake,"  and  engaged  in  building  a  temple  there,  laying 
off  a  city,  and  offering  town  lots  for  sale.  All  property  was 
consecrated  to  the  Lord,  and  the  doctrine  laid  down,  that  the 
Saints  were  only  stewards  of  what  they  had  in  charge,  and  that  a 
tenth  part  of  all,  labor,  earnings,  and  time,  should  be  dedicated 
forthwith,  and  for  ever,  to  the  use  of  the  priesthood,  under  direc- 
tion of  the  Presidency.  Public  store-houses  were  erected  to 
receive  the  tithes  and  donations,  and  the  bishops  put  in  charge  of 
the  collection. 

Two  years  thus  passed  quietly  away  in  the  temporal  matters, 
though  strifes  and  apostacies  became  alarmingly  frequent  in 
spiritual  concerns.  Opportunely  for  the  waning  power  of  the 
prophet,  a  turmoil  appeared  in  Zion,  and  persecution  came  to  his 
aid,  and  cemented  the  union  among  those  not  anathematised.  The 
people  in  Jackson  County  collected  and  drove  out  the  Mormons, 
their  neighbors,  who  were  obliged  to  take  refuge  across  the  river ; 
but  they  refused  to  sell  their  lands,  which  belonged  to  the  "  Saints 
of  the  Lord,"  and  they  could  not  alienate  them.  When  Joseph 
heard  of  these  troubles,  he  sent  forth  a  revelation,  which  informed 
his  people  that  Heaven  was  visiting  for  their  lack  of  faith,  strifes 
and  disagreements,  but  that  he  would  chastise  and  return  them 
again  to  their  inheritance.  To  make  this  good,  a  party  called  the 
"Army  of  Zion"  left  Ohio  to  aid  their  brethren,  being  armed  and 
drilled  for  the  service ;  but  before  they  arrived  on  the  ground,  the 
mob,  or  a  party  of  militia,  met  them  and  demanded  a  parley.  As 
the  heavens  opened  not  in  vengeance  on  the  enemy,  the  prophet 
disbanded  his  party  instead  of  fighting,  and  his  demonstration  not 


106  VARIOUS   REMOVALS. 

having  the  effect  of  awing  the  country  into  submission,  the  holy 
soldiery  dispersed.  Some  of  these  remained  in  Missouri,  joining 
their  brethren;  others  returned  to  Ohio,  but  many  fell  with  the 
cholera.  This  last  was  declared  to  be  the  fulfilling  of  prophecy,  'for 
"judgment  must  begin  at  the  house  of  Grod/'  but  it  was  to  pass 
thence  and  utterly  destroy  their  enemies. 

The  attack  upon  those  in.  Jackson  County  appears  to  have  been 
without  provocation,  other  than  fears  of  their  clanship.  There 
had  been  no  complaint "  of  misdemeanors,  and  this  expulsion, 
without  color  of  law,  was  most  unjust  and  oppressive.  The 
following  year,  1834,  a  guard  was  furnished  by  tire  Governor,  and 
an  attempt  to  secure  redress  was  made  in  the  courts,  but  the 
mobocratic  spirit  was  so  prevalent  that  the  attorney-general 
advised  the  abandonment  of  the  suit,  and  the  civil  proceedings 
were  given  up  accordingly. 

More  peaceable  times  now  seemed  to  hover  over  the  Mormon 
fortunes.  They  gathered  rapidly  together  in  Clay  and  adjoining 
counties,  and  pressed  forward  their  farming  operations  vigorously ; 
and  plenty  again  appeared  on  their  tables,  and  comfort  in  their 
dwellings.  At  Kirtland,  in  the  autumn  of  1835,  a 'Hebrew  and 
theological  school  was  formed,  and  severallmndred  elders  attended 
the  instructions  given  by  a  celebrated  Hebraist  and  scholar.  In 
the  following  spring,  several  of  these  now  learned  doctors  repaired 
to  Missouri,  and  large  accessions  flocked  in  from  abroad,  which  so 
alarmed  the  old  inhabitants  of  Clay  County,  that  they  determined 
to  drive  them  away.  The  evident  clanship  and  unity  of  action  in 
all  matters,  caused  these  new  comers  to  be  distrusted.  Various 
conferences  were  held,  and  consulting  committees  appointed,  during 
the  year,  and  finally  an  arrangement  was  made,  -by  which  it  was 
stipulated  that  the  Mormons  should  withdraw  to  Caldwell,  if 
lands  were  procured  in  exchange  for  those  they  should  leave ;  and 
the  affair  j^as  amicably  arranged,  and  the  removal  effected.  Here, 
in  the  hope  of  a  permanent  residence,  they  set  to  work  again  with 
more  than  usual  ardor. 

Meanwhile  swimming  operations  in  lots,  buildings,  banks,  and 
Manufactures,  were  in  full  tide  at  Kirtland.  A  large  mercantile 


FAILURE   AT    KIRTLAND.  107 

house  was  started  on  a  tithe  basis,  and  obtained  credit  to  a 
considerable  amount;  and  in  1837  a  bank  was  set  in  motion,  and 
property  assumed  fictitious  values.  The  temple,  with  its  various 
compartments  for  giving  and  receiving  endowments,  or  for 
imparting  and  obtaining  the  gifts  of  the  Spirit,  was  so  far 
advanced  that  the  rites  were  actually  held.  For  some  days  wine 
flowed  freely  —  wine  that  had  been  consecrated,  and  declared  by 
the  prophet  to  be  harmless  and  not  intoxicating.  This,  with 
previous  fastings,  and  expectations  wrought  up  to  the  highest  pitch, 
and  other  means  used  to  jcreate  mentaF  excitement,  produced 
unheard  of  effects,  if  we  may  credit  the  witnesses  of  these 
proceedings.  Visions,  tongues,  trances,  wallowings  on  the  ground, 
shoutings,  weeping,  and  laughing,  the  outpouring  of  prophecies, 
and  terrible  cursings  of  the  Missourians,  exhortations  from  house 
to  house,  and  preaching  to  unseen  nations;  these, ^ and  other 
fantastic  things,  were  among  "the  signs  following"  at  Kirtland. 

Not  long  after  followed,  the  crash  of  the  speculations.  The 
improvident  habits  of  sudden  wealth,  the  unwise  investments  in 
lots,  hordes,  and  mills,  and  the  loose  management  of  the  mercantile 
firm,  brought  on  embarrassments  in  1838.  The  bank  failed,  and 
the  managers  were  prosecuted  for  swindling.  Smith  and  Rigdon 
secretly  departed  for  far-west,  the  new  Zion,  and  thus  escaped  to 
"the  city  of  refuge/'  from  the  sheriff  and  his  writs,  and  perhaps 
from  the  penitentiary.  Here  they  imparted  to  the  Saints  the 
developing  nature  of  their  own  spirits.  New  cities  were  located, 
and  settlements  begun  in  Davies,  Caldwell,  and  Carroll  counties. 
The  spot  where  Adam  blessed  his  children  was  revealed, ,  and  a 
city  was  founded .  in  the  valley,  to  be  called  Adam-mon-diamon; 
significant  of  the  patriarchal  blessing. 


CHAPTER  III.     .;^/  %\ 

CONTENTIONS    IN   MISSOURI. 

THE  leaders  began  to  feel  confident  of  sustaining  any  desirable 
measures  and  ruling  the  counties.  Their  followers  had  greatly 
increased,  and  were  obedient  to  their  will.  They  now  injudiciously 
boasted  of  their  power,  and  proclaimed  that  hereafter  they  should 
not  submit  to  vexatious  lawsuits,  nor  yield  to  the  violence  of  mobs. 
The  favor  of  the  Almighty  was  on  their  side,  and  "  one  could 
chase  a  thousand."  On  the  other  hand,  the  older  inhabitants  com- 
plained of  the  loss  of  property,  and  alleged  that  no  confidence  could 
be  placed  in  contracts  made  with  the  Mormons.  When  credit  was 
given,  they  could  not  find  the  persons  to  collect  dues :  fictitious 
names  were  used  to  obtain  goods  and  chattels,  and  when  enquiries 
were  made  for  certain  persons,  nobody  could  be  found  who  ever 
heard  of  them.  Also  they  began  to  fear  that  the  doctrine  of  the 
Saints'  right  to  property,  would  render  their  possessions  insecure. 
Crimination  and  recrimination  became  frequent  and  mutual.  But 
we  may  readily  believe  that  the  fears  of  the  Missourians  were  more 
aroused  on  the  prospect  of  losing  political  ascendency.  In  their 
meetings  to  consult  on  the  alarming  state  of  affairs,  they  resolved 
that  "  the  rule  of  the  counties  should  never  be  submitted  to  the 
control  of  Joseph  Smith." 

Peace  and  prosperity  had  given  leisure  for  more  sober  reflection  to 
the  thoughtful  and  sincere  among  the  Mormons.  They  began  to 
consider  the  tendency  of  their  doctrines,  the  uncharitableness  of 
their  principles,  and  the  consequences  to  result  from  exclusive  clan- 
ship ;  but  more  than  this,  the  truthfulness  of  the  leaders  and  claims 
of  their  prophet.  The  result  was,  that  many  dissented  and  joined  in 
the  sentiments  of  their  neighbors.  These  were  hated  and  feared  far 
more  than  those  styled  Gentiles ;  and  to  expel  the  "  traitors/'  as 

(108)  . 


VIOLENCE   OF   RIGDON.  109 

well  as  to  guarantee  and  protect  against  open  enemies,  the  chief 
persons  organized  a  secret  society,  with  signs  and  "  Key-words/' 
called  the  Big  Fan,  and  afterwards  known  as  the  Danites.  These 
were  sworn  to  obey  the  Presidency  in  all  things,,  right  or  wrong ; 
and  drive  off,  or  put  out  of  sight  in  a  mysterious  manner,  all  who 
were  obnoxious  or  irretrievably  lost,  to  them;  and  suspicious 
strangers  in  Far  West  were  to  be  removed.  That  persons  suddenly 
disappeared  or  "slipped  their  breath"  is  often  affirmed  by  them- 
selves, but  they  say  they  were  horse-thieves  and  vile  wretches,  who 
left  society  for  its  good. 

The  sanguine  preaching  of  enthusiastic  priests  had  infused 
boasting  valor  into  the  mass,  and  a  warlike  tone  pervaded  all 
classes  against  any  who  should  attack  them  or  dispute  their  pre- 
tensions,—  the  same  as  now  prevails  in  the  mountains  against  the 
ideas  of  oppression.  Higdon  became  excessively  violent,  and 
taught  the  Saints  that  they  must  expect  to  fight ;  —  that  traitors 
must  be  dealt  with  according  to  the  law  of  the  Lord,  instancing 
the  fate  of  Judas,  whose  bowels,  he  said,  were  trampled  out  by  the 
Apostles ;  and  Ananias  and  Sapphira,  who  were  killed  by  Peter. 
In  a  fourth  of  July  oration,  commended  by  the  prophet  in  his 
Journal  published  among  them,  he  threw  down  the  gauntlet  to  the 
State  and  all  opposers,  and  pronounced,  "woe  to  them,  in  the 
name  of  Jesus  Christ."  They  declared  themselves  able  to  march 
through  the  Capital,  and  if  the  mob  obliged  them  to  fight,  they 
would  not  stop  until  St.  .Louis  was  in  their  possession.  It  would 
seem  that  the'  disgrace  of  failing  to  build  Zion,  as  predicted,  and 
the  insults  and  injuries  already  received,  had  wrought  up  this 
leader,  and  those  kindred  in  spirit,  to  desperation ;  and  perceiving 
the  mobocratic  feeling  rising  a  third  time,  they  desired  to  overawe 
it,  if  possible,  by  a  threatening  demonstration,  or  stake  their  for- 
tunes on  the  hazards  of  a  war  to  the  knife,  by  which  they  might 
clear  the  neighborhood  of  the  disaffected ;  and  on  the  plea  of  self- 
defence,  afterward  make  peaceable  terms  with  the  State  authorities* 
When  such  dispositions  existed  on  both  sides,  causes  "light  as 
air"  could  bring  them  into  collision;  and  mutual  acts  of  pltmder 
and  retaliation  became  frequent.  At  an  election  of  county  officers 
10 


110  HOSTILITIES   AND   BLOODSHED. 

an  open  fracas  began.  The  Mormons  drove  off  their  opponents, 
and  confiscated  property,  and  burnt  some  houses-,  after  driving 
women  and  children  into  the  woods,,  where  considerable  suffering 
prevailed ;  —  in  one  or  two  instances  children  were  born  of  house- 
less and  terror-stricken  mothers.  A  company  of  militia  wad 
called  together  and  were  encamped  on  a  small  river,  and  were 
there  attacked  by  a  party  of  Mormons,  and  some  killed ;  they  sup- 
posing the  troops  to  be  a  mob  marching  to  destroy  their  property. 

Complaints  of  these  seditions  were  made  to  Governor  Boggs, 
and  he  ordered  out  the  State  troops  to  enforce  order  upon  all  the 
citizens ;  —  even,  if  it  was  found  necessary,  to  exterminate  the 
obnoxious  Mormons,  who  were  presumed  to  be  the  fomenters  of 
the  discord.  The  principal  leaders  were  secured,  and  a  trial  was 
had  before  Judge  King;  and  Smith,  Rigdon,  and  P.  P.  Pratt  in- 
carcerated. For  the  evidence  and  proceedings  of  this  trial,  the 
testimony  of  citizens,  dissenters,  and  Mormons,  reference  must  be 
made  to  the  official  publication  of  the  State  and  that  of  the  United 
States  Senate.  We  are  here  dealing  with  events,  and  leave  every 
person  curious  to  know  the  truth  or  falsity  of  the  causes  of  this 
war,  to  form  his  own  opinion. 

But  in  the  account  given  by  the  Apostle  Pratt  (which  is  not 
there  to  be  found)  we  have  a  picture  of  horrors  and  inhumanity 
toward  his  people  which  would  surpass  our  belief,  if  we  did  not 
know  that  a  lawless  mob  were  the  actors  in  the  scenes,  or  an  un- 
controlled, exasperated  soldiery.  There  were  too  many  authenti- 
cated facts  that  make  the  blood  curdle  as  we  contemplate  them,  to 
deny  that  foul  injustice  was  often  practised ;  —  and  the  deeds  of 
savage  brutality,  whose  disgusting  details  we  pass  in  silence,  make 
us  sigh  that  they  could  be  enacted  by  American  citizens.  Pratt 
avers  that  the  flesh  of  their  martyred  comrades  was  cooked  and 
offered  to  the  prisoners  in  jail  for  food.  At  How's  mills,  twenty 
of  his  brethren-  were  lulled  into  fancied  security  by  professions  of 
friendship,  and  when  defenceless  in  a  log  building  at  night,  they 
were  coolly  shot,  through  the  crevices;  —  and  after  the  massacre, 
they  found  a  lad  of  nine  years  of  age,  concealed  under  a  forge, 
and,  dragging  him  out,  deliberately  blew  off  the  top  of  his  head, 


EXPULSION    OF   THE    MORMONS.  Ill 

—  the  miscreant  boasting  of  his  manly  prowess,  and  all  dancing 
with  the  exultation  of  fiends  incarnate. 

The  prisoners  were  carried  from  one  jail  to  another,  and  their 
trial  for  treason  'delayed ;  their  sufferings  greatly  enhanced  from 
the  uncertainty  which  hung  over  the  fate  of  their  wives  and 
children.  At  last  these  leaders  escaped ;  while  on  one  of  the 
journeys,  the  guard  sank  into  a  deep  sleep  after  a  drunken  frolic, 
and  thence  they  found  their  way  to  Illinois,  to  join  those  who  had 
preceded  them. 

The  Mormons  had  been  driven  from  the  state.  The  sufferings 
of  that  defenceless  multitude,  whose  arms  and  property  had  been 
surrendered,  as  they  crossed  the  State  to  Commerce,  on  the 
Mississippi,  over  the  bleak  prairies,  and  amid  the  storms  of  wind 
and  snow,  in  November,  were  most  intense.  The  aged  and  the 
young,  the  sick  and  the  delicate  women,  the  infants,  and  even 
those  born  on  the  road,  houseless  and  unsheltered,  were  to  be  seen 
in  that  crowd  of  forlorn,  persecuted,  and  unresisting  exiles.  The 
rivers  were  without  bridges,  the  waters  flowed  with  chilling  anchor 
ice,  the  currents,  swollen  by  recent  rains,  had  to  be  forded  or 
swum,  as  the  delay  of  bridging  would  kill  by  starvation  or  cold. 
Thirty  or  more  persons  had  been  murdered,  others  were  sinking 
under  exposure,  grief,  and  hardship;  and  as  one  was  relieved  by 
death,  a  bark  coffin  would  enclose  him,  and  a  wave  of  the  prairie 
sea  pass  over  the  mortal  remains,  and  the  sad  cortege  move  on. 
Families  were  scattered,  widows  with  helpless  children  clinging  to 
them,'  and  piteously  clamoring  for  food;  hunger,  want,  and 
disease  through  all  ranks — this  was  the  exodus  of  a  people  under 
an  inclement  sky,  from  their  homes  of  plenty  and  comfort.  That 
fearful  journey  was  made  where  fuel  could  scarcely  be  found  to 
cook  the  scanty  stores,  and  where  cattle  died  of  starvation,  for 
they  could  not  be  trusted  to  range  far  for  grass,  and  must  be 
tethered  at  night,  nor  permitted  leisure  to  graze  by  day,  but  convey 
along  the  starving  pilgrims  to  a  place  of  refuge.  All  that 
brotherly  kindness  can  'do,  was  exhibited  then  —  the  crust  was 
shared  with  the  first  neighbor  whose  store  was  exhausted,  the 
robust  cheered  the  weak,  and  the  hearts  of  all  united  in  sympathy. 


312  THE   MORMONS   REACH   THE    MISSISSIPPI. 

But  what  have  not  those  persecutors  to  answer  for  ?  There  is 
One  who  hath  said,  "vengeance  is  mine,  I  will  repay,"  and  if  he 
that  steals  must  restore  fourfold,  surely  he  that  causes  a  pang  of 
human  suffering,  cannot  expect  less  than  a  like  retribution  in  the 
future  pf  Providence. 

Twelve  thousand  persons  arrived  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi 
in  destitute  plight ;  their  tale  of  distress  touched  the  hearts  of  the 
Illinoisians,  and  they  hospitably  received  them.  Provisions  and 
clothing  were  hastily  gathered  and  freely  bestowed — this  generous 
conduct  is  a  bright  ray,  piercing  through  the  murky  clouds  of  that 
dark  tragedy. 

Let  us  reflect  a  moment  on  what  has  been  presented  before  us. 
Can  we  blame  a  sad,  revengeful  remembrance  of  those  times  by 
the  Mormons  ?  We  may  ask  them  to  forgive — to  forget,  never. 
And  has  a  remuneration  been  made  them  for  the  wholesale 
spoliations  of  those  whose  crime  was  laid  in  their  mistaken  view 
of  the  rights  of  conscience  ?  We  have  heard  of  none.  But  we 
have  heard  that  one  appeared  in  Jackson  County  to  sue  out  a  writ 
of  possession  of  his  land,  and  the  citizens  collected  and  stamped 
him  under  their  feet,  until  his  bowels  gushed  out,  and  then  buried 
him ;  this  was  all  the  homestead  he  secured.  Such  exhibitions  of 
justice  do  not  satisfy  the  mountain  brethren  that  purity  and  right 
prevail  in  Missouri — yet,  afar  off,  they  are  preparing  memorials, 
praying  permission  to  return,  and  fondly  hope  yet  to  possess  the 
heart-beloved  Zion. 

Those  who  misled  the  credulous  multitude  in  the  war  should 
have  been  punished.  After  the  first  conflict,  they  declared  the 
war  must  derive  its  support  from,  their  opponents,  and  consecrated 
their  cattle,  hogs,  and  honey  to  their  own  use,  under  the  names  of 
"buffalo,  and  bear-meat,  and  olive  oil."  These  contributions  from 
the  Gentiles  were  gathered  by  an  armed  band  called  the  Fur 
Company,  as  indemnifications  for  losses  sustained  by  the  mobs. 
They  forcibly  drove  out  people,  and  inflicted  some  of  the  misery 
which  they  afterwards  endured  in  their  own  exodus.  We  may 
admit  that  the  rulers  were  corrupt,  and  ambitious  of  ruling  that 
part  of  the  country — these  could  have  been  secured  and  punished, 


EFFECT   OF  PERSECUTION.  113 

and  the  innocent,  deluded  ones,  saved  from  the  awful  misery  which 
awaited  them.  To  those  surviving  those  .times,  a  semblance  of 
compensation  can  be  made  by  giving  them  the  cultivated  lands 
of  their  mountain  homes  —  it  could  only  be  a  show  of  gift,  for 
there  they  have  well  earned  their  comforts  in  toil  and  battle  against 
Indian  marauders. 

This  expulsion  of  the  Mormons  from  one  State  to  another  in 
the  closing  months  of  1838,  is  here  stated  as  an  historical  fact ; 
and  it  may  show  that  this  century  is  not  so  much  advanced  in 
philanthropy,  that  it  will  tolerate  error  of  opinion  without 
question,  or  that  it  seeks  to  correct  it  only  by  argument,  and  the 
enlightenment  of  general  education.  There  is  great  need  of 
progress  in  charity,  and  the  knowledge  of-  treating  what  is  ridicu- 
lous by  letting  it  fall  into  contempt  without  notice.  Crime  may 
be  punished  and  restrained  by  what  raises  folly  into  wisdom  in  the 
estimation  of  thousands. 

This  violence  in  Missouri  gave  a  new  impetus  to  Mormonism. 
The  people  were  concentrated  thereby,  and  unanimity  of  views  and 
opinions  again  prevailed.  The  dissenters  were  driven  away — the 
weak  in  faith  were  made  strong,  under  the  harangues  of  teachers  who 
loudly  proclaimed  that  so  "  Christ  and  his  Apostles  were  made  to 
suffer."  They  were  to  pass  through  like  tribulation.  But  some- 
thing more  confirmed  them.  They  had  assumed  the  name  and 
were  included  under  the  ban  of  extermination.  After  the  storm 
arose,  it  was  too  late  to  evade  the  consequences ;  —  they  could  not 
recant  and  receive  favor  with  the  mob.  No  credit  would  be,  or 
was  given  to  defections  made  under  such  circumstances, — it  was 
looked  upon  as  a  ruse  in  order  to  save  their  property,  and  they 
were  not  trusted.  Root  and  branch  must  be  cleared  away. 

Thus,  every  thing  conspired  to  make  them  twofold  more  the 
children  of  Mormonism  than,  before.  And  this,  we  observe,  has 
been  the  case  with  several  dissenters.  They  have  gone  back  to 
the  first  love :  —  they  feel  a  stigma  rests  on  them  for  having  once 
joined  that  belief,  and  their  vanity  is  more  powerful  than  their 
judgment.  These  "brands  from  the  burning"  are  received  with 
open  arms,  for  they  show  that  other  religions  are  unsatisfactory, 
10* 


114  SOME   DEFECTIONS. 

and  they  are  the  proud  trophies  of  victory  of  the  new  religion ;  — 
no  wonder  that  the  unstable  seek  for  peace,  in  a  delusion  that 
treats  them  so  kindly.  Even  the  most  notorious,  such  as  Rigdon 
and  Cowdery,  former  members  of  the  first  dynasty,  have  been  in- 
vited to  return,  we  are  informed. 

It  is  remarkable  that  the  wife  of  the  Prophet,  uEnima,  the 
Elect  Lady/'  according  to  his  Revelation,  and  the  first  three  wit- 
nesses to  the  Book  of  Mormon,  who  affirm  that  "  an  angel  came 
down  from  heaven"  and  laid  the  golden  plates  "before  their  eyes" 
and  that  "  the  voice  of  God  "  declared  the  truth  of  them  in  their 
hearing;  also  the  chief -of  the  Eight  witnesses  who  declare  with 
"words  of  truth  and  soberness"  they  handled  them  with  their 
hands ;  together  with  Martin  Harris  and  the  Editor  of  the  Gospel 
Messenger,  and  some  of  the  ablest  advocates  of  the  doctrines  in 
earlier  times, —  have  left  the  society,  without  apparently  affecting 
the  faith  or  enthusiasm  of  the  later  converts.  It  was  when  these 
men  were  leaving  that  the  Danite  band  was  formed  to  fan  them, 
and  keep  their  mouths  closed,  and  others  from  deserting, —  they 
were  the  fruits  of  peace  and  prosperity. 


CHAPTER  IV.     f^ 

SETTLEMENT  AT   NAUVOO. 

WHEN  the  homeless  starving  multitudes  had  crossed  the  Missis- 
sippi, and  found  solace  in  Illinois,  £he  question  of  a  new  residence 
arose,  and  the  site  of  the  town  of  Commerce,  in  the  elbow-bend 
of  the  river,  was  selected  for  a  city,  and  lands  purchased  on  the 
half-breed  tract,  in  Iowa,  opposite.  The  name  given  to  the  place 
was  Nauvoo,  The  City  of  Beauty.  The  situation  was  offered  to 
the  Prophet  by  Dr.  Galland,  the  owner,  who  is  the  reputed  author 
of  a  letter  to  Smith,  setting  forth  the  peculiar  advantages  of  this 
point  as  a  nucleus  for  his  increasing  colony.  The  plan  for  a  city 
and  temple  is  most  ably  set  forth  as  a  capital  for  a  religious  empire ; 
and  that  a  commercial  town  would  be  well  supported  by  the  sur- 
rounding country,  which  is  rich  in  agricultural  resources.  It  is 
situated  at  the  head  .of  the  Des  Moines  rapids,  and  beautiful  prairies 
extend,  like  the  undulating  ocean,  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach, 
from  the  highest  ridges,  on  all  sides.  On  the  rich  delta  of  the 
Des  Moines  and  Father  of  Waters,  and  in  Hancock  county,  another 
"  everlasting  residence  "  for  the  saints,  was  consecrated.  Soon  the 
colonists  changed  the  desert  to  an  abode  of  plenty  and  richness. 
Gardens  sprang  up,  as  by  magic,  decorated  with  the  most  beauti- 
ful flowers  of  the  old  and  new  world,  whose  seeds  were  brought  as 
mementoes  from  former  homes,  by  the  converts  that  flocked  to  the 
new  stake  of  Zion.  Broad  streets  were  soon  fenced,  houses  erected, 
and  the  busy  hum  of  industry  heard  in  the  marts  of  commerce : 
—  the  steamboat  unladed  its  stores  and  passengers,  and  departed 
for  a -fresh  supply  of  merchandize,— fields  waved  with  the  golden 
harvests,  and  cattle  dotted  the  rolling  hills.  A  temple,  site  was 
chosen  on  the  brow  of  the  bluff  overlooking  the  lower  town,  which 

(115)    : 


116  THE  TEMPLE   BEGUN. 

part  of  the  city  was  on  the  sloping  meadow  in  the  bend  below. 
The  pattern  was  given  to  the  prophet  by  his  angel,  and  all  the 
details  explained  orally.  A  gentile  architect  was  employed  to 
draft  it  by  dictation.  He  soon  found  that  it  was  complicated  and 
broke  the  rules  of  his  art;  but  notwithstanding  his  difficulties, 
Joseph  insisted  that  the  tout  ensemble  must  be  right ;  and,  true 
enough,  the  "Lord's  design "  was  at  last  pronounced  correct. 
Revelations  were  freely  vouchsafed,  and  they  were  informed  that 
their  situation  was  much  better  than  what  it  was  in  Pandemoni- 
um ;  and  they  must  bear  the  late  chastisement  like  obedient  chil- 
dren. All  saints  were  loudly  called  to  pay  in  their  tithes  of  time 
and  money  —  and  one  revelation,  especially,  told  the  kings  and 
queens  to  become  nursing  parents  to  the  church,  and  bring  in  their 
gold,  their  silver,  and  all  precious  stones,  to  build  and  adorn  the 
temple.  Minute  transactions  were  governed  by  these  revelations ; 
—  some  of  them  have  been  printed,  but  many  more  remain  in  the 
manuscript,  and  are  of  no  further  use  than  historical  records  for 
preserving  memorials  of  that  time,  and  actions  of  that  people. 

Flourishing  centres  of  dense  settlements  sprung  up  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Nauvoo,  and  the  accessions  and  exertions  of  emigrants 
enlarged  their  borders.  Not  alone  to  these  was  the  increase  con- 
fined. Horse-thieves  and  house-breakers, —  robbers  and  villains 
gathered  there  to  cloak  their  deeds  in  mystery,  who,  caring  nothing 
for  religion,  could  take  the  appearance  of  baptism,  and  be  among, 
but  not  of  them.  Speculators  came  in,  and  bought  lots,  with  the 
hope  of  great  remuneration,  as  the  colony  increased.  The  latter 
class,  unwilling  to  pay  tithes,  soon  fell  into  disrepute,  and  when 
proper  time  had  elapsed  for  conversion  without  effect,  measures 
were  taken  to  oust  them.  A  proper  sum  would  be  offered  for 
their  improvements  and  land,  and  if  not  accepted,  then  petty  an- 
noyances were  resorted  to.  One  of  these  was  called  "  whittling 
off."  Three  men  would  be  deputed  and  paid  for  their  time  to  take 
their  jack-knives  and  sticks, —  down-east  Yankees  of  course^ — and 
sitting  down  before  the  obnoxious  man's  door,  begin  their  whittling. 
When  the  man  came  out  they  would  stare  at  him,  but  say  nothing. 
If  he  went  to  the  market,  they  followed  and  whittled.  Whatever 


PROGRESS   OP   NAUVOO.  117 

taunts,  curses,  or  other  provoking  epithets  were  applied  to  them, 
no  notice  would  be  taken,  no  word  spoken  in  return,  no-  laugh  on 
their  faces.  The  jeers  and  shouts  of  street  .urchins  made  the  wel- 
kin ring,  but  deep  silence  pervaded  the  whittlers.  Their  leerish 
look  followed  him  every  where,  from  "morning  dawn  to  dusky 
eve."  When  he  was  in-doors~,  they  sat  patiently  down,  and  assi- 
duously performed  their  jack-knife  duty.  Three  days  are  said  to 
have  been  the  utmost  that  hitman  nature  could  endure  of  this 
silent  annoyance;  the  man  came  to  terms,  sold  his  possessions  for 
what  he  could  get,  or  emigrated  to  parts  unknown. 

Though  the  banks  of  the  river  at  Nauvoo  are  dry,  and  the  city 
site  rises  in  an  abrupt  slope  to  a  commanding  eminence  on  the 
prairie  level,  the  marshes  .below  exhaled  a  miasm  that  brought  on 
its  breath  the  "  ague  fiend/ J  and  much  distressed  those  who  had 
been  exposed  on  the  wintry  march,  and  the  new  comers,  whilst 
acclimating.  During  the  process  of  draining  the  marshes,  and  in 
four  years,  one  third  of  their  number  perished.  This  is  another 
charge  laid  to  their  persecutors  by  the  later  cpnverts,  who  say 
they  forced  them  to  take  up  their  residence  where  no  one  was 
expected  to  be  able  to  live,  and  allowed  them  to  remain,  only  to 
see  them  perish.  But  numbers  survived  the  agues,  and  the  place 
was  assuming  a  healthy,  pleasant-aspect.-  The  State  favored  the 
exiles;  charters  were  obtained  for  the  city,  with  peculiarly  favor- 
able privileges  —  the  Nauvoo  Legion  was  incorporated,  and  the 
arms  of  the  State  loaned,  in  which  they  Were  well  drilled,  and 
became  a  standing  army,  with  the  prophet  as  Lieutenant  General 
— the  chiefs  were  incorporated  a  company  for  building  the  temple, 
and  other  companies  for  a  grand  boarding-house,  the  result  of  a 
revelation,  in  which  the  prophet  and  family  were  provided  with  an 
elegant  suite  of  apartments,  free  of  expense  "for  ever" — for  a 
university,  and  for  manufactures. 

General  conferences  were  semi-annually  held  for  awhile,  and 
missionaries  appointed  to  Palestine,  Africa,  and'  Europe,  and 
to  each  congressional  district  of  the  home  country.  The  policy 
was,  and  always  has  been,  to  select  the  ambitious,  the  uneasy,  or 
the  too  enquiring  and  knowing  ones,  and,  under  Divine  command,, 


118  MORMON   MISSIONARIES. 

send  them  to  carry  the  revived  gospel  to  the  ends  of  the  earth,  in 
order  to  give  them  a  chance  to  let  off  the  steam  of  discontent. 
Especially  it  is  the  policy  to  put  on  this  duty  inquisitive  minds 
who  are  diving  too  deeply  into  the  mysteries  of  their  faith,  and 
are  "becoming  weak  in  the  same/'  Such  usually  receive  the 
command  "from  on  high/'  to  buckle  on  the  armor,  as  a  particular 
compliment  of  Heaven  —  and,  flattered  by  the  notice  of  the  great 
President  above,  accept  the  commission,  and  go  forth  to  battle 
manfully.  They  become  oftentimes  the  most  zealous  advocates, 
for,  being  thrown  on  the  defensive,  they  seek  for  arguments  to 
sustain  what  just  before  they  were  disposed  to  overthrow;  and 
disputation  and  controversy  confirm  them  wonderfully  in  the  truth 
of  the  doctrine,  and  their  power  to  "  confound  the  wise  and  the 
unwise."  It  is  the  surest  way  to  make  full  Mormons  of  the 
wavering,  by  enlisting  their  pride,  and  engaging  their  attention  on 
the  defensive  side  of  the  question.  They  soon  look  into  their 
own  souls  for  the  proof  that  they  are  on  the  side  of  truth,  as  their 
convictions  go  with  their  desire  of  proselyting.  "  We  know  it,  for 
the  evidence  is  revealed  within  us/'  they  will  say  —  the  interior 
proof  is  all  in  all,  when  the  historical  or  theological  opposition  is 
found  too  strong  to  be  met  with  argument. 

Missionaries  are  sent  with  all  the  promptness  of  military  orders, 
a  three  days'  notice  for  a  three  years'  absence  from  family  and 
business  not  unfrequently  being  all  that  is  given.  Families  are 
cared  for  by  the  Presidency  and  bishops.  Three  hundred  were 
chosen  at  one  conference.  Previous  to  starting,  they  were 
assembled  to  receive  the  orders  of  Joseph.  He  preached  a  fervid 
sermon,  that  stimulated  their  pride  of  conquering  difficulties 
without  scrip  or  purse.  One  of  that  band,  still  well-affected  to 
the  society,  though  differing  on  one  point  from  its  teaching,  related 
to  the  writer  some  parts  of  the  discourse.  One  main  point 
insisted  on  was,  that  "  spiritual  wifery"  was  to  be  most  pointedly 
denied ;  and  that  they  taught  that  one  man  should  live  in  chaste 
fidelity  with  one  woman  in  conjugal  relationship.  In  the  dark 
concerning  the  revelation  allowing  polygamy,  he  sincerely  declared 
that  but  one  wife  was  ever  known  to  any  of  his  brethren.  While 


SPIRITUAL   WIFERY.  119 

zealously  preaching  in  the  city  of  New  York,  he  was  thought 
worthy,  by  the  Apostle  Lyman,  to  be  let  into  the  secret  of  the 
"  blessings  of  Jacob,"  the  privileges  of  the  Saints.  Called  aside 
one  day  by  the  President  of  the  Stake,  he  was  told  that  God  had 
always  rewarded  his  distinguished  saints  with  special  privileges, 
such  as  would  be  wrong, for  sinners,  but  by  revelation  made  harm- 
less to  the  good.  As  an  instance  he  would  cite  Jacob,  David,  and 
Solomon,  who  had  many  wives  allowed  them.  In  these  last  days, 
also,  the  like  had  been  accorded  to  Joseph  Smith  and  others ;  and 
having  now  full  confidence  in  his  holiness,  the  priest  could  have  the 
same  privilege  of  adding  to  the  household  of  the  faith  many  chil- 
dren, by  choosing  additions  to  the  present  wife.  The  priest  says  he 
was  utterly  astounded,  but,  on  reflection,  chose  to  dissemble,  and  say 
he  would  consider  the  matter.  In  the  evening  he  was  invited  to 
witness  "a  sealing"  of  several  couples,  at  a  large  boarding-house. 
In  the  front  parlor  the  ceremony,  like  a  marriage,  was  performed ; 
and,  as  each  pair  was  "finished"  by  the  priest,  they  retired 
through  the  folding  doors,  and  thus  to  their  own  apartments.  The 
guest  was  so  shocked,  that  he  retired  to  his  home,  and  though  he 
never  took  any  open  part  against. the  "church  of  new  privileges/' 
he  was  denounced  as  a  deserter  in  their  papers,  and  the  public 
cautioned  against  him  as  a  defamer.  Strange  to  say,  he  was,  at 
the  time  of  our  interview,  contemplating  rejoining  his  people  in 
the  mountains. 

POLYGAMY. 

' ..    "" 

It  was  .  during  this  peaceful  time,  about  1841-2,  that  the 
revelation  allowing  to  the  High  Priests  and  chiefs  of  their 
hierarchy  as  many  wives  as  they  could  support,  and  declaring  it  a 
duty  for  those  eligible  to  the  priesthood,  to  take  one  wife  at  least, 
was  said  to  be  given.  In  vain,  it  is  reported,  proved  the 
opposition  of  Emma,  The  Elect  Lady  —  in  vain,  also,  her  threat 
of  another  husband  in  retaliation  ]  the  only  consolation  received 
was,  that  a  prophet  must  obey  the  Lord,  "  he  would  be  obedient 
to  the  heavenly  vision."  The  story  of  "  spiritual  wives/'  or 
rather  that  the  wives  were  held  in  common,  and  those  whose 


120  POLYGAMY    CERTAIN. 

husbands  were  not  in  full  fellowship  with  the  church,  like  them- 
selves, were  sealed  to  the  elders,  probably  arose  from  the  published 
doctrine  that  a  woman  cannot  be  saved  without  a  man  to  take  her 
into  the  heavenly  kingdom.  It  is  even  yet  asserted,  we  believe, 
by  the  Mormonisli,  and  opposers  of  this  part  of  "  Relevation," 
(for  there  are  many  of  both  sexes  denouncing  it,  without  being 
cut  off,  because  it  is  not  yet  a  publicly  proclaimed  doctrine,)  that 
certain  women  are  sealed  to  high  dignitaries ;  but,  for  ourselves, 
we  know  nothing  of  the  truth  or  falsity  of  the  charge :  we  can 
only  say  that  all  marriage  relations  that  came  under  our  notice 
were  most  purely  correct  in  appearance ;  and  that  all  wives  in 
Utah  showed  a  devotion  and  alacrity  in  domestic  affairs  and  family 
duties,  that  would  promote  the  harmony  of  the  world,  and  make 
many  a  heavy  heart  beat  for  joy,  if  universal. 

That  polygamy  existed  at  Nauvoo,  and  is  now  a  matter  scarcely 
attempted  to  be  concealed  among  the  Mormons,  is  certain.  Else- 
where are  given  their  reasons  for  its  justification.  It  is  a  thing 
of  usual  and  general  conversation  in  the  mountains,  and  we  often 
heard  one  of  the  Presidency  spoken  of  with  his  twenty-eight 
wives;  another  with  "forty-two,  more  or  less;"  and  the  third 
called  an  old  bachelor,  because  he  has  Only  a  baker's  dozen.  It 
is  neither  reproach  nor  scandal ;  no  one  is  present  to  see  the 
•ceremony  of  sealing  but  the  priestly  clerk  and  parties ;  therefore, 
if  a  Gentile  asks  one  if  all  the  women  in  his  neighbor's  house, 
with  prattling  babes,  are  the  landlord's  wives,  the  answer  is,  "  I 
know  nothing  about  it,  and  attend  to  no  man's  family  relations." 


CHAPTER  V. 

POLITICAL  MOVEMENTS  —  MURDER  OF  JOSEPH.  « 

THE  Mormons  now  boasted  of  having  a  hundred  thousand 
persons  in  the  faitb  throughout  the  States ;  and  this  accounts  for 
the  silence  of  the  press  concerning  them,  as  their  vote  was  a 
balancing  power.  They  would  go  in  a  body  on  political  questions. 
Smith  visited  Washington,  and  reports  his  interview  with  the 
President  to  have  concluded  with  this  emphatic  assertion  of  Mr. 
Van  Buren ;  "  Sir,  your  cause  is  just,  but  I  can  do  nothing  for 
you."  In  view  of  the  approaching  election  of  '44,  letters  were 
written  to  the  prominent  candidates,  and  answers  elicited,  which 
Joseph  pronounced  unsatisfactory,  for  no  one  pledged  to  coerce 
Missouri  to  restore  Zion  and  their  lands  to  them,  as  Latter-Day 
Saints.  Then  the  prophet  sent  forth  his  "Views  on  Government/' 
advocated  a  National  Bank,  denounced  all  punishment  for  deser- 
tions in  the  army  or  navy,  throwing  the  soldier  on  his  honor 
alone;  would  pardon  out  every  convict  from  the  penitentiaries; 
curtail  government  offices  and  pay ;  reduce  the  number  of  repre- 
sentatives; and,  in  short,  make  every  thing  harmonious  and 
prosperous,  by  declaring  that  all  were  free  to  try  "  honesty  "  and 
"love"  in  their  dealings,  and  become  a  brotherhood.  Joseph  was 
put  in  nomination  for  the  Presidency ;  and  the  Mormons  assert, 
that  had  he  lived  for  the  next  trial  after,  he  would  have  been 
elected.  The  opportunity  was  not  given.  A  dark  day  was 
approaching.  Their  neighbors  became  dissatisfied  and  jealous. 
Their  property  disappeared,  and  causes  tried  in  the  Nauvoo  courts 
went  always  against  them.  No  Mormon  could  be  brought  to 
justice,  they  said.  Political  aspirations  were  alleged  also;  that 
they  aspired  to  rule  the  State,  and,  under  a  spiritual  leader,  set 
the  laws  at  defiance.  It  was  industriously  circulated  that  thieves, 
11  (121) 


122  TROUBLES   IN    NATJVOO. 

"bogus  makers/'  and  robbers,  were  harbored,  protected,  and 
assisted  by  the  leaders.  Cattle  and  utensils  disappeared  from  the 
neighboring  farms.  Traces  of  stolen  property  were  obtained  at 
Nauvoo. 

But,  more  than  all,  intestine  quarrels  brought  on  the  crisis  of 
affairs.  Many  influential  and  talented  persons,  finding  themselves 
deceived  both  in  the  sanctity  of  the  prophet,  and  in  advancing 
their  temporal  fortunes,  deserted  his  standard,  and  denounced  him 
for  licentiousness,  drunkenness,  and  tyranny.  Women  impeached 
hirn  of  attempted  seduction ;  which  his  apology  that  it  was  merely 
to  see  if  they  were  virtuous,  could  not  satisfy.  Criminations 
brought  back  recriminations  against  certain  men.  The  Wasp, 
Joseph's  paper,  lashed  the  dissenters  with  bitter  hatred.  The 
dissenters  established  a  counter  battery  in  the  Expositor,  and 
published  one  number,  detailing  the  most  offensive  debaucheries 
on  the  part  of  the  prophet  and  his  principal  friends. 

The  city  council  was  convened,  and  eleven  members  of  the 
twelve  voted  the  Expositor  a  nuisance.  A  party  immediately 
destroyed  the  press,  scattering  the  type  in  the  streets,  and 
burning  all  of  the  edition  it  could  find.  Those  engaged  in  the 
work  repaired  to  head-quarters,  and  were  complimented  by  Joseph 
and  Hyrum  for  doing  their  duty  to  the  Lord,  being  further  assurejd 
that  they  should  be  rewarded. 

Writs  were  issued  against  the  mob  leaders  and  abettors,  but 
they  were  immediately  set  at  liberty  by  Habeas  Corpus,  a  process 
often  resorted  to,  whereby  the  outsiders  could  never  bring  such  to 
justice.  The  officer  then  procured  a  writ  in  the  county,  and 
summoned  a  posse  to  enforce  the  law — but  the  people  and  troops 
in  Nauvoo  prevented  it,  and  when  the  militia  Were  called  out, 
Joseph,  as  mayor  and  commanding  general  of  the  Nauvoo  Legion, 
declared  the  city  under  martial  law.  The  Governor  of  the  State 
was  appealed  to,  who  repaired  to  Carthage,  the  county  seat,  and 
ordered  out  three  companies  of  the  State  militia,  and  for  a  time  a 
collision  seemed  inevitable.  The  Governor  sent  an  agent  to  the 
Smiths,  assuring  their  personal  safety,  and  called  upon  them  to  meet 
him  in  conference.  Joseph  sent  two  men,  Bernhisel  and  Taylor, 


THE    MORMON    LEADERS   IMPRISONED.  123 

to  confer  with  Governor  Ford — but  the  latter  despatched  an  officer 
with  the  militia  to  arrest  the  prophet  and  patriarch.  These 
crossed  over  the  Mississippi  into  Iowa,  to  watch  events,  keeping 
up  by  boat  a  correspondence  with  tne  council.  Finding  that 
their  own  people  were  being  incensed  at  their  desertion,  by  advice 
of  council  it  was  concluded  best  to  obey  the  summons  of  the 
Governor,  their  friends  feeling  sure  of  acquittal  on  trial.  Accord- 
ingly they  came  back  and  started  for  Carthage,  but,  on  the  way, 
met  a  party  with  an  order  to  disband  the  Legion,  and  deliver  up 
the  State  arms.  They  returned  with  the  troops,  and  the  order 
was  duly  executed. 

They  now  repaired  to'  Carthage,  and  were  indicted  for  treason, 
and  lodged  in  jail,  with  two  others,  Dr.  Richards  and  John  Tay- 
lor, of  the  Apostles.  The  dissenters  and  those  who  had  suffered 
loss  of  property  were  greatly  exasperated  against  them ;  and  those 
whose  families  were  dishonored,  or  attempts  upon  them  made, 
swore  dire  vengeance.  But  the  Governor,  seeing  things  apparently 
quiet,  and  the  leaders  safely,  secured,  discharged  the  troops,  and 
went  to  Nauvoo  and  addressed  the  people,  advising  submission  to 
the  course  of  the  laws,  and  to  demean  themselves  as  good  citizens, 
and  justice  should  be  done  to  all  parties. 

On  the  27th  of  June,  1844,  he  started  back,  and  on  the  way 
met  an  express,  informing  him  that  a  horrible  massacre  of  the 
Smiths  had  been  committed  by  the  mob,  in  whom  the  spirit  of 
revenge  had  been  roused,  and  satiated  in  blood.  The  Governor, 
fearing  that  the  Mormons  would  at  once  destroy  the  inhabitants, 
advised  them  to.  evacuate  the  place,  and  putting  General  Dem  ing 
in  command  of  the  few  troops  that  could  be  raised,  retired  forth- 
with to  -Quincy,  to  await  the  sequel  of  events. 

It  appears  that  when  the  troops  were  disbanded,  many  individ- 
uals conspired  with  other  citizens  to  attack  the  jail  and  take  jus- 
tice into  their  own  hands.  Early  in  the  day  they  assaulted  the 
door  of  the  room  in  which  the  prisoners  were  incarcerated. 
Richards  and  Taylor,  lying  on  the  floor,  made  a  stretch  across  the 
room,  the  feet  of  one  against  the  shoulders  of  the  other,  and  kept 
the  door  from  fully  opening.  Guns  were  thrust  in  and  discharged, 


124  JOSEPH    SMITH    MURDERED. 

and  Joseph,  with  a  revolver,  returned  two  shots,  hitting  one  man 
in  the  elbow.  A  ball  struck  Hyrum  the  patriarch,  and  he  fell  ex- 
claiming, "  I  am  killed  ! " — to  which  Joseph  replied,  "  0  brother 
Hyrum  !"  The  prophet  then  -threw  up  the  window,  and,  in  the 
act  of  leaping  through  was  killed  by  balls  fired  from  the  outside, 
saying  as  he  fell,  "  0  Lord,  my  God."  The  people  in  the  hall 
forced  into  the  room  and  wounded  Taylor;  the  other  escaped 
"  without  a  hole  in  his  robe." 

Thus  ended  the  mortal  career  of  one  whose  true  biography  has 
yet  to  be  written.  He  founded  a  dynasty  which  his  death  ren- 
dered more  secure,  and  sent  forth  principles  that  take  fast  hold 
on  thousands  in  all  lands;  and  the  name  of  Great  Martyr  of  the 
Ninteenth  century,  is  a  tower  of  strength  to  his  followers.  He 
lived  fourteen  years  and  three  months  after  founding  a  society  with 
six  members,  and  could  boast  of  having  one  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  ready  to  do  his  bidding  when  he  died;  all  of  whom  re- 
garded his  word  as  the  voice  from  Heaven.  Among  his  disciples 
he  bears  a  character  for  talent,  uprightness,  and  purity,  far  surpass- 
ing all  other  men  with  whom  they  ever  were  acquainted,  or  whose 
biography  they  have  read.  But  few  of  these  admirers  were  cog- 
nizant of  other  than  his  prophetic  career,  and  treat  with  scornful 
disdain  all  that  is  said  in  disparagement  of  his  earlier  life.  With 
those  who  knew  him  in  his  youth,  and  have  given  us  solemn  tes- 
timony, he  is  declared  an  indolent  vagabond,  an  infamous  liar  of 
consummate  impudence.  He  is  regarded  by  the  "  Gentiles."  who 
saw  him  in  the  last  few  years  of  successful  power,  to  have  been  a 
man  of  unbridled  lust,  and  engaged  with  the  counterfeiting  and 
robbing  bands  of  the  Great  Valley,  but  these  charges  hav£  .never 
been  substantiated  —  and  dissenters  charge  him  with  breaking  the 
whole  decalogue. 

His  mind  was  an  active  one,  and  he  possessed  elements  of  an 
engaging  kind ;  without  them  he  could  not  have  held  men  so  long 
and  so  forcibly.  In  this,  he  has  compeers  among  those  who 
have  played  a  similar  part  on  the  credulity  of  mankind,  and 
claimed  divine  mission.  Like  them,  he  was  bold  in  assertion  of 
his  "  truths  "  and  hurled  anathemas  upon  all  who  did  not  acknow- 


CHARACTER   OF    SMITH.  125 

ledge  his  pretensions.  He  found  many  to  listen,  who  would  then 
consider  and  examine  awhile,  and  ask  themselves  the  question, 
"what,  after  all,  if  this  should  be  true?" — and  in  that  doubt  lay 
their  danger,  for  "  he  that  doubteth  is  damned ''  when  the  true 
light  is  shining  around  him.  The  wonder  that  strikes  us  is,  the  time 
and  the  manner  in  which  this  new  doctrine  is  sought  to  be  estab- 
lished, and  its  rapid  success.  No  one  can  doubt  that  there  was 
genius,  sagacity,  and  intuitive  insight  into  the  characters  of  men, 
which  was  operated  with  from  the  time  of  inducing  Harris  to  as- 
sist in  publishing  his  bible.  From  the  moment  that  person  was 
duped,  and  became  bound  by  his  cupidity  to  the  issue  of  the  book 
from  the  press,  was  the  struggle  of  mental  power.  Next,  when 
it  was  found  that  the  work  would  not  be  a  lucrative  object,  what 
but  transcendent  ability  could  have  controlled  the  mind  of  the  ver- 
satile, eloquent,  and  methodical  Rigdon,  and  used  his  talents  to 
organize  a  church  system  and  put  it  into  complete  operation,  which 
na  follower  has  dared  to  amend  ?  And  the  most  bitter  trials  did 
not  daunt  him;  he  looked  calmly  on  the  misery  of  thousands 
about  him,  in  the  fires  of  persecution,  and  still  moved  on,  unflinch- 
ing, till  at  last  he  dared  a  ruthless  mob  to  his  death,  which  show- 
ed a  determination  to  ride  "the  whirlwind  and  direct  the  storm/' 
regardless  of  the  human  suffering  that  might  be  endured. 

The  anecdotes  of  his  eccentricities  and  manners  are  household 
themes  in  the  mountains,  and  time  and  distance  are  embellishing 
them  with  all  the  virtues  of  the  true  hero.  They  love  to  relate 
to  listening  friends  and  children  how  the  prophet  Joseph  would 
strip  off  the  mask  of  hypocrisy  —  how  he  would  meet  a  new 
convert,  bringing  his  long-faced  piety  from  the  other  denomina- 
tions, and  challenge  a  wrestling  match  in  the  streets,  nor  let  off 
the  sanctimonious  and  surprised  fellow*  until  he  had  shown  him 
that  his  athletic  reputation  was  not  a  sham,  by  leaving  him  flat  in 
the  dust  —  and  to  all  he  taught  that  his  was  a  laughter-loving, 
cheerful  religion.  And  how  another,  coming  with  charitable 
zeal  to  the  prophet,  would  be  requested  to  lend  for  the  temple  all 
his  money,  and  then  be  noticed  no  more  than  other  strangers ;  the 
poor  destitute  being  obliged  to  shoulder  spade  and  axe,  and  labor 
11* 


126  EFFECT   OF   SMITHES   DEATH. 

in  poverty,  until  he  would  decamp  or  be  proved  faithful.  If  he 
stood  the  test  for  a  few  months,  he  would  suddenly  be  called  to 
head-quarters,  and  eligible  lots  assigned  him,  and  some  position 
given  in  which  he  could  earn  his  bread  in  comfort. 

That  he  had  become  politically  as  well  as  religiously  ambitious, 
is  apparent  from  his  letters  on  governmental  policy.  By  establish- 
ing "stakes"  in  various  places,  he  could  hope  to  hold  the  balance 
of  power  between  the  two  great  parties,  and  ultimately  force  one 
to  help  his  own  people  to  place  him  in  the  highest  office  in  the 
nation.  It  is  evident,  that  had  he  been  permitted  to  colonize  in 
Missouri,  in  a  few  years  the  control  of  the  State  must  have 
passed  into  his  hands.  After  the  expulsion,  all  his  movements 
and  sentiments  were  tending  toward  regaining  that  lost  section, 
and  his  credit  with  the  people  depended  on  fulfilling  the  prophecy 
concerning  Zion.  It  is  a  cardinal  point  in  the  preaching  of  his 
successor,  and  in  view  of  having  to  fight  for  it,  that  there  is  still 
kept  up  the  drilling  of  the  Legion,  and  exercises  in  military 
tactics,  until  there  is  in  that  community  the  material  for  the  best 
partisan  troops  in  the  world.  The  mantle  of  the  modern  assumed 
Elijah  has  fallen  on  his  kindred  Elisha,  whose  ambition,  though 
not  as  wide,  has  the  same  determined  purpose  of  dominion  as  that 
of  Joseph  the  Seer. 

His  death  by  violence,  and  by  his  enemies,  was  opportune  for 
the  support  of  the  system  he  sought  to  establish.  He  had  arrived 
at  that  point  in  the  revolution  which  he  led,  when  the  least, delay 
would  have  caused  its  waves  to  flow  over  and  engulf  him.  New 
things  and  new  light  were  constantly  expected  by  those  whose 
credulity  was  the  measure  of  their  faith  —  they  were  taught  to 
look  for  principles  according  as  they  admitted  and  acted  by  them. 
Hence  the  immense  strides  in  the  last  year  toward  pantheism  and 
materialism  of  the  Deities.  And  aspiring  men  were  also  bringing 
forward  revelations  which  they. were  not  content  should  be  attri- 
buted to  the  inspiration  of  Beelzebub.  Higdon  had  again  estab- 
lished his  chain  of  communication  with  the  angels  of  the  unseen 
world — Bishop  had  accumulated  large  folios  of  enlightened 
"  table-talk  "  with  the  spirits  unseen,  and  Strang  had  found  him- 


SMITH'S  SUCCESSOR.  127 

self  commissioned  a  King  of  Saints,  and  felt  the  divine  inflatus 
within ;  and  the  numerous  contradictions  in  the  revelations  of  the 
prophet,  though  explained  on  the  prineiple  that  God  gave  accord- 
ing to  altered  circumstances,  threw  doubt  on  the  prophet's  own. 
The  endeavor  to  apply  this  to  the  relation  of  the  sexes,  and  make 
that  innocent  which  all  the  enlightened  world  considered  wrong, 
by  merely  his  assertion  that  "thus  saith  the  Lord/'  staggered  the 
faith  of  the  virtuous  who  were  not  too  blinded  to  reflect  or  think  for 
themselves.  This  it  was  that  commenced  the  quarrel  which  ended 
in  his  arrest  and  death. 

He  lived  long  enough  for  his  fame,  and  died  when  he  could 
just  be  called  a  martyr.  He  had  become  too  violent  and  impa- 
tient, to  control,  for  a  long  time,  the  multitude  —  he  could  begin, 
but  not  conduct,  successfully,  a  revolution.  In  this  respect,  he 
contrasts  remarkably  with  his  successor  in  the  Seership  of  the 
Saints.  The  latter  could  never  be  a  martyr.  His  prudence  and 
foresight  have  been,  shown  under  the  most  trying  circumstances, 
and  in  cool  calculation  of  the  future  he  is  pre-eminent,  and  plans 
with  cautious  policy  to  meet  all  the  exigencies  before  him.  Policy 
is  a  word  little  known  in  the  vocabulary  of  the  first  prophet,  and 
is  the  most  frequent  in  that  of  the  present  one.  It  galls  the  more 
simple-hearted  ones  however,  and  they  sigh  for  the  bold  attitude 
of  the  first  Presidency,  and  feel  derelict  to  the  duties  of  their  di- 
vine mission  by  yielding  at  all  to  the  political  interference  of  the 
general  government  —  waiting  impatiently  for  the  signal  to  march 
back  to  Zion  —  yet,  on  their  principles  of  obeying  "counsel/' 
restraining  themselves  to  yield  a  temporary  submission. 

BR1GHAM   YOUNG   ELECTED. 

The  murder  of  their  prophet  exasperated  the  people  of  Nauvoo. 
They  were  ready,  and  a  vast  majority  determined,  on  immediate 
war  to  the  knife,  with  all  engaged  in  that  horrid  tragedy,  or  who- 
ever might  come  to  abet  them.  A  few  more  sagacious  minds  per- 
ceived the  danger  of  such  a  course,  and  began  skilfully  to  prevent 
the  utter  ruin  of  their  hopes,  likely  to  result  from  open  hos- 


128  THE   CLAIMS   OF   RIGDON. 

tility  to  the  state.  They  harangued  them  on  the  stand,  and  talked 
with  the  clubs  collected  at  the  corners  of  the  streets.  The  great 
drum  was  beating  to  arms.  It  was  a  fearful  struggle,  that  going 
on  in  the  breasts  of  the  prudent.  Re'venge  was  deep  in  every 
heart/ and  the  bursting  movement  there  was  interpreted  into  the 
voice  of  the  Holy  Spirit;  and  it  was  made  audible  in  the  terrible 
curses  poured  forth  on  the  Gentile  murderers.  The  "time  to 
fight/'  was,  by  most,  supposed  to  have  come.  But  skilful  delays 
were  interposed  by  the  influential :  their  arms  had  been  just  sur- 
rendered and  a  new  organization  made,  and  leaders  were  to  be 
chosen.  The  day  passed  off  and  no  companies  had  started,  and 
wrath  was  bosomed  for  the  morrow.  In  the  morning  after,  the 
congregation  was  early  collected  at  the  temple-square  or  gathering 
place.  The  chief  Apostles  promised  them  the  vengeance  of  hea- 
ven upon  their  enemies,  but  that  they  were  not  quite  ripe  enough 
for  the  vials  of  wrath  to  empty  their  torments  upon  them.  Short- 
ly the  pestilence,  the  fire,  and  the  sword,  would  do  theif  work. 

The  funeral  pageant  next  absorbed  all  their  attention.  The 
mourning  was  sore,  sad,  and  deep  over  the  beloved  patriarch  Hy- 
rum  and  the  adored  prophet  Joseph.  In  "  their  deaths  they  were 
not  divided,"  and,  among  th<3  songs  of  Zion  heard  in  the  Mormon 
worshipping  assemblies,  are  the  elegy  and  the  poeans  of  Joseph 
and  Hyrum,  the  martyrs  for  their  faith,  but  triumphant  in  glory. 

The  struggle  for  the  leadership,  the  Seer  succession,  followed. 
Rigdon,  as  second  in  rank  claimed  promotion ;  also  by  former  re- 
velations declared  himself  assigned  to  be  their  prophet.  He 
called  a  meeting  and  proclaimed  his  position  as  head.  He  gave  a 
revelation,  by  which  he  was  commanded  to  visit  queen  Victoria, 
and  if  she  rejected  his  gospel  to  hurl  her  from  the  throne.  James 
J.  Strang  contended  for  the  place  of  Seer,  and  showed  letters 
over  the  deceased  prophet's  signature,  assuring  him  that  he  should 
be  the  successor  in  the  event  of  Joseph's  death.  But  the  college 
of  the  Twelve  had  other  views,  and  a  vote  on  the  subject.  They 
declared  that  definite  instructions,  and  the  last  will  and  testament 
of  Joseph,  had  been  delivered  to  them  in  secret  council.  It  re- 
voked all  former  designations  and  devolved  the  choice  upon  them. 


BRIGHAM    YOUNG.  129 

Under  the  management  of  their  sagacious  chief,  they  elected  the 
Peter  of  the  Apostles,  Brigham  Young,  to  the  responsible  station. 

This  man,  with. a  mien  of  the  most  retiring  modesty  and  diffi- 
dence in  ordinary  intercourse  in  society,  holds  a  spirit  of  ardent 
feeling  and  great  shrewdness  ]  and  when  roused  in  debate,  or  upon 
the  preacher's  stand,  exhibits  a  boldness  of  speech  and  grasp  of 
thought  that  awes  and  enchains  with  intense  interest — controlling, 
soothing,  or  exasperating,  at  pleasure,  the  multitudes  that  listen  to 
his  eloquence.  His  title  among  the  Saints  is,  "  The  lion  of  the 
Lord/' 

This  enthronement  drove  Rigdon  with  a  party  to  Pennsylvania, 
where  in  a  short  time  his  influence  vanished  and  the  band  dis- 
persed. Strang  founded  a  city  on  the  prairies  of  Wisconsin  and 
had  a  numerous  colony  —  he  ultimately  removed  to  Beaver 
island,  in  Michigan  lake,  and  assumed  the  title  of  King  of  the 
Saints,  where  the  small  kingdom  still  exists.  These  bodies  and 
their  leaders  were  excommunicated  by  the  great  majority  under 
the  proper  Seer — as  was  also  William  Smith,  another  competitor 
for  the  throne,  and  a  party  in  Texas  headed  by  Lyman  White. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  EXPULSION  FROM  NAUVOO. 

WE  have  one  more  sad  and  fearful  tale  to  tell  about  the  Mor- 
mons ere  their  fortunes  brightened.  The  mobocratic  spirit  did  not 
expire  when  it  destroyed  the  great  leader.  Threats  and  demon- 
strations clearly  proved,  that  their  present  abode,  which  had  been 
made  lovely  by  unheard-of  exertions,  must  be  abandoned.  The 
monster  conflagrations  on  Green  Plains  cast  a  funereal  glare  on  the 
spires  of  Nauvoo.  The  present  venerable  patriarch,  uncle  of  the 
prophet  Joseph,  in  prophetic  vision  announced  that  the  whole  peo- 
ple must  retire  to  the  wilderness,  to  grow  into  a  multitude  aloof 
from  the  haunts  of  civilization. 

This  matter  was  taken  into  consideration  by  Brigham  and  high 
council.  The  result  was,  that  they  would  move  as  fast  as  possible 
across  Iowa  to  the  Missouri,  and  into  the  Indian  country  in  the 
vicinity  of  Council  Bluffs.  Speculators  flocked  in,  and  offered 
nominal  prices  for  what  they  significantly  hinted  would  very  soon 
be  taken  for  nothing,  if  the  offers  were  rejected.  Houses,  lots, 
and  such  goods  as  could  not  be  moved,  were  sold  by  many  in  the 
fall  of  ;44  and  \  winter  of  '45 ;  and  several  parties  set  out  on 
the  dreary  journey  early  the  following  spring.  Ox-carts  and 
mule  teams,  loaded  with  all  sorts  of  furniture,  intermingled  with 
women  and  children,  wended  their  way  slowly  along  on  miry 
tracks,  and  crossed  the  swollen  streams  —  fuel  and  grass  scanty  — 
but  the  spirits  of  all  unbroken,  save  the  sick  and  helpless.  Close- 
ly bound  together  by  common  dangers  and  a  common  faith,  they 
performed  with  alacrity  their  duties,  and  sympathy  made  the 
dreary  journey  one  of  social  life.  Their  mirthfulness  would  be 
excited  by  little  incidents,  and  even  misfortunes  were  turned  into 

<'  (130) 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  DEPARTURE.  131 

jokes,  as  helping  hands  lent  their  aid  to  right  a  broken  wheel  or 
upset  wagon.  At  the  halting  places,  the  spinning-wheel  would  be 
taken  down  and  yarn  spun  to  keep  the  knitting-needles  going  when 
riding  during  the  day  —  and  cloth  made  from  wool  sheared  after 
the  journey  begun.  At  some  places  land  was  broken  up  and 
planted  with  seed,  and  a  family  or  two  left  to  rear  a  crop  for  those 
who  were  to  follow  in  autumn.  The  lowing  herd  accompanied, 
and  the  milch  kine  yielded  the  nourishing  beverage,  and  butter 
was  made  by  the  jolting  of  the  wagons  as  they  travelled  along. 

Still,  the  work  continued  unabated  on  the  temple,  for  they 
were  commanded  to  dedicate  it  before  leaving  the  city  of  Beauty. 
It  was  the  work  of  their  hearts ;  each  person  owned  a  share  of 
the  noble  pile,  for  his  hands  had  labored  on  it,  his  tithes  were 
expended  there,  and  the  ladies  had  contributed  their  ornaments  to 
forward  the  sacred  edifice.  The  mob  became  impatient  of  delay, 
and  would  not  believe  the  Mormons  sincere  in  the  stipulated 
move.  As  the  corn-fields  began  to  ripen,  the  rabble  collected,  it 
is  said,  to  the  number  of  two  thousand,  and  there  were  only  three 
hundred  of  the  old  legion  to  defend  the  place  against  them.  For 
three  days  an  irregular  fight  went  on,  the  assailants  taking 
advantage  of  the  high  waving  corn  to  conceal  their  approaches. 
The  defenders  nobly  stood  their  ground,  and  drove  "them  back  at 
all  p'oints,  and  obtained  a  truce  until  spring;  and  then  set 
diligently  to  work  to  complete  the  architectural  ornaments,  tho 
holy  emblems,  and  the  angel  on  the  lofty  spire  with  his  gospel 
trump,  to  prepare  the  sacred  temple  for  the  last  act  assigned  them 
by  " revelation/'* 

When  completed  in  all  its  minutiae,  the  consecrators  were 
called.  From  the  surrounding  country,  and  from  parties  far 
advanced  on  their  prophetic  journey,  priests,  elders,  and  bishops 
stole  into  the  city  as  dusty  travellers,  and  were  suddenly  metamor- 
phosed to  dignity  by  their  robes  of  office;  and  one  day,  from 

*  I  am  informed  by  Captain  S.  Eastman,  the  accomplished  scholar 
and  artist,  that  the  angel  and  trump  are  in  Barnum's  Museum,  New 
York  city. 


132  NAUVOO   TEMPLE   DEDICATED. 

high  noon  to  the  shade  of  night,  was  there  a  scene  of  rejoicing 
and  solemn  consecration  of  the  beautiful  edifice,  on  which  so  much 
anxiety  and  thought  had  lately  been  expended.  There  stood  the 
Mormon  temple  in  simple  beauty,  the  pride  of  the  valley.  The 
great  altar  hung  with  festoons  of  flowers  and  green  wreaths ;  the 
baptistic  laver  resting  on  twelve  elaborately  carved  oxen,  decorated 
with  the  symbolic  glories,  celestial,  telestial,  and  terrestrial;  the 
chaunt  was  sung,  the  prayers  offered  up,  and  the  noble  building, 
resplendent  with  lights  of  lamp  and  torches,  solemnly  dedicated  to 
their  own  God.  This  done,  and  the  walls  were  dismantled  of 
ornaments  and  the  symbols  of  their  faith,  the  key-words  of  the 
mysteries,  and  lettered  insignia  were  all  removed  with  haste, 
except  the  sun,  moon,  and  stars,  carved  in  stones  of  the  walls,  and 
the  temple  forsaken,  to  be  "profaned  and  trodden  down  by  the 
Gentiles/'  A  few  brief  hours  were  given  to  this  brilliant 
pageant,  and  during  this  festive,  joyous  scene,  a  spectator  would 
have  supposed  the  actors  expected  that  house  to  be  their  own  for 
ever.  There  is  something  truly  affecting  in  the  contemplation  of 
that  devotional  offering  of  so  fine  a  temple,  and  then  leaving  it 
unscathed  to  the  hand  of  their  enemies. 

From  this  time  all  defence  ceased,  and  their  enemies  rested  satis- 
fied that  the  .Mormons  had  decided  to  sell  their  possessions. 
Arrangements  for  surrender  and  departure  were  quickly  made. 
Company  after  company  followed  the  pioneers  to  .the  white  Mis- 
souri; and  many,  crossing  over  in  early  summer,  turned  up  the  rich, 
but  pestilential  prairie  sod,  to  prepare  a  harvest  for  autumn,  and 
await  the  last  of  the  trains.  During  that  summer  the  plague  and 
fever  raged  violently,  and  its  ravages  in  the  great  bottom,  on  Indian 
and  white  men,  were  fearful.  Winter  approached  —  the  tent  and 
wagon  body,  with  its  hooped  canvas,  was  exchanged  for  caves  dug 
in  the  sides  of  the  hills,  and  covered  with  logs,  reeds,  or  cloth.  The 
scanty  fuel  gave  but  little  warmth  to  ward  off  the  cold,  made  more 
searching  from  the  piercing  winds  that  howled  over  the  delta 
prairies  of  the  Missouri  and  Nebraska.  Then  came  the  ague,  the 
rheumatism,  and  the  scurvy,  the  terrible  concomitants  of  fatigue, 
exposure,  and  scanty  fare.  Numbers  died,  and  were  buried  in 


THE    MORMONS    RAISE    A   BATTALION.  133 

the  rich  alluvion.  Awful  as  was  that  winter  and  spring,  a  cheerful 
heart  and  countenance  was  on  all  sides — a  revelation  gave  permis- 
sion to  dance,  to  sing,  and  enjoy  the  swelling  music  from  the 
excellent  band  that  accompanied  all  their  journeys. 

Let  us  revert  to  the  summer.  A  city  was  laid  out,  and  soon 
the  streets  were  dusty  with  the  tread  of  busy  industry.  A 
printing-press  Issued  the  Frontier  Guardian,  the  able  exponent  of 
their  doctrines  still.  The  name  assumed  was  Kane,  in  honor  of 
their  guest  and  eloquent  defender,  whose  historical  oration  on  these 
dark  periods  of  their  fortunes,  does  equal  honor  to  his  charitable 
heart  and  intelligence — a  sketch,  however,  of  the  epic  kind,  replete 
with  poetical  ornament  and  fervor. 

It  was  at  this  time,  in  July,  that  a  battalion  of  520  men  was 
recruited  among  them  for  the  Mexican  war.  The  government, 
knowing  their  intention  to  settle  in  California,  would  thus  do  them 
a  favor  by  bearing  a  part  of  the  expense  of  removal,  test  and 
demonstrate  their  fidelity,  and  show  the  reports  of  their  enemies, 
concerning  leagues  with  the  Indians,  to  be  false.  The  people, 
however,  thought  this  only  another  persecution,  yet  submitted,  to 
prove  their  patriotism.  Enfeebled  by>  disease,  and  scattered,  it 
was  an  enormous  effort.  The  elders  called  the  congregation,  and 
asked  for  recruits.  The  unmarried  were  ordered  to  volunteer — 
then  fathers  and  husbands  were  called  to  leave  their  families,  and 
the  elders  declared,  if  necessary,  they  would  shoulder  the  musket. 
In  three  days  the  battalion  was  organized,  and  a  merry  ball,  from 
"  noon,  to  dewy  eve/'  was  given,  in  holiday  attire,  by  young  men 
and  maidens,  joined  in  by  reverend  priests  and  matrons.  The 
warriors  were  blessed  in  holy  convocation,  a  prophecy  made  that 
they  should  conquer  the  country  without  a  drop  of  blood  shed  in 
battle;  and  the  battalion  departed  "in  the  name  of  the  Lord." 

Men  were  sent  to  the  mountains,  to  the  heads  of  the  Missouri 
branches,  and  to  California,  to  spy  out  the  land,  and* the  Calebs 
and  Joshuas  brought  such  a  report  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake  Valley, 
that  it  was  chosen  for  another  "everlasting  abode." 

In  the  spring  of  1847,  a  pioneer  party  of  143  men  proceeded 
to  open  the  way;  and  the  host,  in  parties  of  tens,  fifties,  and 
12 


134  THE    GREAT    SALT    LAKE    VALLEY    REACHED. 

hundreds,  followed.  This  was  an  admirable  system,  and  baffled 
the  thievish  desire  of  the  Sioux,  Crows,  and  Shoshones.  A  captain 
was  over  each  division,  but  the  captains  of  hundreds  had  the 
supervision  of  the  smaller  bands.  A  strict  discipline  of  guard 
and  march  was  observed.  But  the  drain  of  the  battalion  threw 
the  burden  of  toil  much  upon  the  women.  Females  drove  teams 
of  several  yoke  of  oxen  a  thousand  miles.  A  man  could  :take 
three  teams  by  the  help  of  ^  woman  and  lad  —  he  driving  the 
middle  one,  and  stepping  forward  to  assist  over  the  creeks  with 
the  foremost,  and  then  bring  up  the  rear  ones— and  at  the  camps 
unyoke  and  " hitch  up"  for  his  feebler  coadjutors.  Thus  they 
wound  along  their  weary  way,  at  ten  and  fifteen  miles  a  day — - 
forded,  or  bridged,  and  ferried  over,  the  Loup,  the  Horn,  and 
Platte  rivers  on  the  plains,  and  the  swollen  streams  of  the  Bear, 
and  rushing  Weber,  in  the  mountains. 

The  first  glimpse  of  the  great  yalley  on  the  road  was  from  the 
summit  of  the  second  mountain,  sixteen  miles  distant.  As  each 
team  rose  upon  the  narrow  table,  the  delighted  pilgrims  Baw  the 
white  salt  beach  of  the  Great  Lake  glistening  in  the  never-clouded 
sunbeam  of  summer  —  and  the  view  down  the  open  gorge  of  the 
mountains,  divided  by>a  single  conical  peak,  into  the  long-toiled- 
for  vale  of  repose,  was  most  ravishing  to  the  beholders.  Few 
such  ecstatic  moments  are  vouchsafed  to  mortals  in  the  pilgrimage 
of  life,  when  the  dreary  past  is  all  forgotten,  and  the  soul  revels 
in  unalloyed  enjoyment,  anticipating  the  fruition  of  hope.  A  few 
moments  are  allotted  to  each  little  party  to  gaze,  to  admire  and  to 
praise  —  and  they  begin  to  descend  a  steep  declivity,  amid  the 
shades  of  a  dense  poplar  grove,  and  for  twenty-four  hours  are  de- 
siring to  renew  their  pleasurable  sensations  on  emerging  from  the 
frowning  kanyon  into  the  paradisaical  valley,  and  long-soiight-for 
home. 

The  journey  was  ended,  but  this  gave  no  repose  —  industry  con- 
tinued. In  five  days  a  field  was  consecrated,  fenced,  ploughed,  arid 
planted,  and  seeds  were  germinating  in  the  moisture  of  irrigating 
streams  and  the  genial  warmth  of  the  internal  heat  of  the  earth, 


FACE    OF   THE    COUN7TRY.  135 

here  brought  to  their  notice  by  the  thermal  waters  gushing  from 
a  thousand  springs. 

Though  cramped  in  their  means,  and  feeble  as  they  were, 
nothing  of  interest  on  that  long  journey  was  left  unobserved  or 
unrecorded.  Parties  were  directed  to  scour  the  vicinity  of  the 
road,  and  report  on  springs,  timber,  grass,  and  other  objects  of  in- 
terest. An  ingenious  and  accurate  road-measurer  was  attached  to 
a  wagon,  and  a  person  designated-  to  note  the  distances  from  point 
to  point,  and  every  feasible  camping-ground  was  marked  down  — 
and  a  Directory  for  every  rod  of  the  road,  admirably  arranged  and 
filled  with  useful  information,  was  published  far  the  use  of  those 
who  should  follow.  The  self-taught  mathematician  and  learned 
apostle  Orson  Pratt,  noted  for  latitude  and  longitude.  The  valley 
of  the  Platte  is  found  to  be  almost  an  unbroken  plane,  whose 
slope,  is  so  gentle  that  the  eye  detects  neither  ascent  nor  descent, 
and,  from  the  .Black  Hills  to  its  mouth  is  almost  a  straight  line, 
and  is  perhaps  the  most  remarkable  trace,  and  finest  natural  road, 
in  the  world.  The  flat,  or  bottom,  begins  to  spread  at  the  hills, 
gradually  from  a  point  to  ten  or  fifteen  miles  in  width ;  and  lies 
between  bluffs,  whose  height  is  the  origand  plane  or  surface,  out 
of  which  the  river  has  excavated  its  valley.  Few  clumps  of  trees 
are  along  the  banks ;  but  the  islands,  secure  from  the  prairie  fires, 
are  covered  with  groves  of  cottonwood.  Irrigation  would  make 
valuable  the  level  meadows,  and  to  the  north  and  south,  pastures 
can  be  found  covered  with  nutritious  grasses,  whose  limits  would 
be'.the  range  of  the  shepherds  from  the  watering  river. 

Portions  of  the  Platte  have  the  appearance  of  shallow  lakes, 
two  or  three  miles  wide ;  and  in  summer  the  stream  is  divided  into 
thousands  of  currents  by  the  sand  islands.  Its  volume  increases  as 
you  ascend  toward  its  sources  ;  the  absorption  by  the  soil  and  rapid 
evaporation  on  so  wide  a  surface  diminish  the  flow,  while  but  few 
tributaries  enter  below  the  Sweetwater.  .What  is  here  said  of  this 
riv,er  applies  to  the  mountain  streams  generally;  they  attain  then 
full  size  where  the  rivulets  are  collected  into  one  at  the  mountain 
base,  and,  in  many  instances,  disappear  in  the  sands  of  the  plains 
far  distant  from  the  ocean.  j 


136  PRESENT   POSITION    OF   THE    MORMONS. 

Near  the  Sweetwater,  they  discovered  a  lake  with  a  deposition 
of  borax,  and  another  with  an  ~  abundance  of  soda,  which  they 
named  €t  Saleratus  Lake/'  and.  where  they  loaded  up  a  few  years' 
supply  of  the  alkali,  to  use  in  its  native  state  in  preparing  biscuit 
and  bread.  They  noted  the  beds  of  bituminous  coal  on  the 
Platte,  and  in  the  Green  river  basin — the  petroleum  issuing  with 
the  springs  near  Bear  river,  and  tested  the  poisonous  quality  of 
other  fountains,  leaving  a  warning  to  the  traveller  not  to  suffer 
his  cattle  to  drink  at  them.  The  beds  of  gypsum,  the  character 
of  the  soil,  the  minerals  and  geology  of  the  route,  were  not  neg- 
lected in  that  journal;  and  the  elevations  of  the  summits  on  the 
road  were  barometrically  taken.  Thus  observant  and  industrious, 
they  press  on,  and  emerge  cheerfully  into  the  valley  of  the  Great 
Salt  Lake. 

The  pioneers  arrived  on  the  21st  of  July,  and  the  Church  Pres- 
idency on  the  24th,  which  latter  day  is  their  grand  epoch,  which, 
in  the  language  of  the  third  one  in  rank,  of  that  corps,  on  the 
third  anniversary, — "is  the  day  whose  events  are  of  the  most 
importance  to  mankind  of  any  that  ever  transpired,  the  creation 
of  Adam  and  birth  of  Jesus  Christ  alone  excepted." 

And  there  they  are,  bidding  defiance  to  their  persecutors  and 
ready  to  fight  for  the  land  that  has  been  fertilized  by  their  labors, 
and  made  valuable  by  their  perseverance  and  almost  superhuman 
exertions.  It  has  been. made  sacred  to  them  by  the  blood  of  their 
sons,  which  has  flowed  in  its  defence  against  hostile  Indians.  It  is 
holy  ground,  set  apart  to  their  use  by  the  rites  of  their  conscience- 
loved  religion.  Nor  could  they  be  easily  molested.  It  were  more 
than  a  march  to  the  ancient  Aztec  city,  to  carry  an  army  to  their 
mountain  home.  In  those  distant  fastnesses  they  feel  secure 
against  any  force  the  United  States  would  send  against  them.  But 
they  invite  no  such  attention  as  this,  and  seek  to  evade  it;  they 
will  do  all  that  conscience  and  a  sense  of  right  will  allow,  to  avoid 
collision.  They  feel  well  entitled  to  the  land,  as  already  well  paid 
for  —  and  can  but  expect  a  grant  for  Improvements  and  Educa- 
tional purposes  like  other  new  States  which  will  cover  all  the  lands 
that  would  be  bought  in  the  market.  They  also  feel  it  due  to 


FEELINGS   TOWARDS   THE   UNION.  137 

them,  to  grant  them  the  privilege  of  self-control ;  to  exercise  just 
laws  over  their  own  people,  and  of  their  faith,  by  persons  of  their 
own  choice  or  recommendation,  and  that  Gentile  governors  and 
judges  are  unjust  impositions  upon  them. 

They  were  driven  to  a  land  worthless  and  savage  —  left  three 
years  without  protection  or  'control  —  have  formed  their  habits, 
agricultural,  mechanical,  and  religious  er  moral ;  and  know  better 
than  all  the  world  what  is  suited  to  their  condition.  Non-inter- 
ference with  the  vote  of  its  citizens  is  the  wish  of  Utah.  True, 
they  could  be  annoyed  by  cutting  off  supplies  of  luxuries,  and 
blockading  the  routes  by  which  they  receive  their  poor  emigrants, 
but  that  would  at  once  make  a  foreign  nation  in  the  centre  of 
American  territory.  * 

But  to  enjoy  their  own  laws  of  a  republican  character,  permitted 

and  sanctioned  by  the  Constitution,  they  are  determined  upon 

doing,  and,  have  the  administration  of  them  in  their  own  way. 

-  Soon  they  may  be  numerous  enough  to  demand  the  position  of  a 

sovereign  State,  and  knock  loudly  for  admission  into  the  Union. 

Their  feeling  toward  the  Union  was  significantly  shown  at  the 
third  celebration  of  their  memorable  epoch  of  arrival.  A  small 
part  of  its  history  may  serve  to  illustrate. 

At  ten*  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  roaring  cannon  gave  notice 
that  the  time  of  gathering  to  the  Bowery  on  the  temple  block  was 
at  hand.  The  dignitaries  of  "The  Church,"  and  officers  of  the 
United  States'  exploring  party  were,  by  invitation,'  at  the  new 
edifice  of  the  President,  Brigham  Young,  where  they  were 
received  with  all  the  gentlemanly  kindness  and  urbanity  which 
distinguishes  the  governor  of  Utah.  At  eleven  a  large  military 
escort,  handsomely  equipped,  and  commanded  by-  General  Wells, 
a  hero  in  the  three  days'  defence  of  Nauvoo,  with  a  fine  band  of 
music,  followed  by  twenty-four  bishops  in  official  robes,  each 
holding  a  flag^  filed  in -front  of  the  mansion,  and  halted.  The 
guests,  dignitaries,  and  Presidency,  were  then  arranged  in  pro- 
cession, and  all  proceeded  under  conduct  of  the  general,  his  aides, 
and  Marshal  of  the  Day  —  music  playing,  the  banners  waving, 
and  the  cannon  at  the  Bowery  resounding,  to  the  forum,  where 
12* 


138  ANNIVERSARY   OF   THEIR   ARRIVAL. 

the  exercises  were  to  be  held.  Here  were  assembled,  in  most 
perfect  order  and  quiet,  about  six  thousand  persons  —  all  in  neat 
holiday  attire,  and  .pleasure  beaming  on  every  countenance.  When 
the  Orator,  Presidency,  Fathers,  or  ."  aged  men,"  and  principal 
guests  were  seated  on  the  numerous  benches  of  the  pulpit  stand, 
an  invocation  of  Heaven 's  blessing  was  made  by  one  of  the 
twelve. 

Then  followed  the  reading  .of  the  order  of  exercises  by  the 
Marshal,  and  the  Orator  proceeded  to  deliver  his  eloquent  appeal 
to  the  pride,  the  patriotism,  and  sense  of  justice  of  the  attentive 
listeners.  He  recounted  their  many  trials  and  the  glorious  result; 
and  called  on  them  to  uphold  their  honor  and  their  rights  against 
all  invasion.,  and  iji  thtir  name  declared  an  attack  upon  them  for 
this,  would  be  resisted.  Speeches  were  made  afterward  by  the 
President  and  others,  all  tending  to  rouse  attention  to  the  character 
of  the  celebration,  and  designate  more  pointedly  why  and  for  what 
cause  they  were  there  to  commemorate  the  day. 

Next  came  the  pageant  of  the  day,  to  which  we  call  attention. 
It  was  the  presentation  to  the  governor  of  Deseret  of  the  Consti- 
tution of  the  United  States,  and  their  own,  for  his  and  his 
successors'  guardian  care.  The  presentation  of  the  Constitution 
was  made  by  twenty-four  "aged  fathers,"  silver-headed  men,  sons 
and  descendants  of  ;76.  In  a  neat,  brief  speech,  their  foreman 
admonished  the  governor  that  those  fathers  before  him  were  soon 
to  leave  the  scene  enacting  on  life's  busy  stage;  and  before  they 
went,  no  more  to  return,  while  the  present  civil  governments 
were  in  being,  they  desired  to  place  in  charge  the  legacy  they  had 
received  from  the  past  generation,  to  be  transmitted  on  intact  to 
the  future,  till  the  consummation  of  time.  This  was  the  glorious 
and  divine  Constitution,  that  had  been  given  by  inspiration  of  God 
to  the  statesmen  of  an  earlier  day — and  this  they  asked  should  be 
placed  among  the  archives  of  their  growing  state  as  a  holy 
treasure,  and  to  be  regarded  "as  the  palladium  of  our  liberty," 
and  the  supreme  ruler  under  God,  that  sits  over  the  destinies  of 
the  United  States ; ,  an  unembodied  power,  existing  solely  in  the 
love  and  faith  of  its  subject  freemen.  And  it  must  be  held 


MORMON    DETERMINATION.  139 

sacred,  and  every  person  in"  the  mountains  was  called  to  enrol 
himself  its  sworn  defender ;  for  portentous  clouds  are  r611ing  up 
the  eastern  sky,  and  the  original  supporters  are  soon  to  break 
allegiance  to  the  silent  but  eloquent  constitution,  and,  insensate 
by  the  will  of  Heaven,  will  rush  to  imbrue  their  hands  in  fraternal 
blood v — while  aloof,  the  chosen  depositaries  shall  cherish  the 
holy  casket,  and  descend  at  last  like  the  eagle  from  its  eyrie,  to 
carry  back  to  the  repentant  remnant  that  peace  by  which  this 
highly  favored  land  alone  can  prosper  —  and,  along  with  the  civil 
instrument,  that  truth  which  alone  can  make  them  free. 

The  festivities  were  continued  by  a  sumptuous  banquet  at  the 
Presidential  mansion,  given  to  those  escorted  to  the  Bowery,  and 
after  an  informal  return,  toasts,  music,  songs,  and  jovial  speeches 
were  showered  forth  until  evening,  when  the  delighted  multitude, 
without  an  incident  to  mar  the  harmony  of  the  occasion,  dispersed; 
apparently  believing  that  they  were  the  greatest  people  on  earth, 
and  their  rulers  the  wisest  men  in  existence.  They  had  been 
told  by  their  Seer  that  they  need  not  fear  any  earthly  power ;  and 
that  it  was  determined  to  maintain  their  identity  as  a  State, 
whatever  Congress  or  President  at  "Washington  should  say  or  do, 
and  the  people  one  and  all  responded  a  hearty  Amen,  it  shall  be 
so,  it  is  the  fiat  of  justice  and  of  Heaven.  Subsequent  events 
have  proved  that  practically  it  is  just  as  they  have  determined; 
a  State  they  are,  making  their  own  local  laws  and  enforcing  them, 
whether  under  the  name  of  Territory  of  Utah,  or  State  of 
Desere*t  —  they  have  made  (and  is  it  not  just  ?)  that  territory  into 
the  "Land  of  the  Honey  Bee,7'  and  would  fain  call  it  their  own. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

PROGRESS  £T  THE  GREAT  SALT  LAKE. 

THERE  are  a  few  items  of  Mormon  belief  and  practice,  and  the 
subject  of  titles  to  land,  to  which  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  refer. 
The  first  thing  we  notice  is  the  "  working  of  miracles  "  and  curing 
instantly  diseases.  Claiming  all  the  gifts  vouchsafed  to  the  early 
church,  this  performance  of  miracles  becomes  a  necessary  thing, 
and  to  their  own  minds  is  conclusively  done.  It  is  for  confirming 
themselves  in  the  truth,  not  to  demonstrate  to  "  those  without," 
who  seek  after  a  sign,  that  the  power  is  given.  Evading  poisons, 
and  healing  the  sick,  are  the  most  usual.  An  eye-witness  related 
to  me  the  following,  A  mad  dog  rushed  through  the  streets  of 
the  city,  snapping  at  every  animal  it  met,  and  bit  a  lad  severely. 
The  cattle  all  died.  The  Elders  were  immediately  called  to  the 
bedside  of  the  doomed  boy.  Parents,  brothers,  and  relations  stood 
dissolved  in  grief,  awaiting  anxiously  the  spasms,  and  dissolution 
of  the  family  pet.  The  chief  priest  commands  silence  —  the 
voice  of  "mighty  prayer"  ascends  in  supplication — the  conse- 
crated oil  is  produced  —  the  child  is  anointed  —  and  the  prayer 
of  faith  restores  the  -son  to  his  overjoyed  parents. 

Diseases  are  held  to  be  demoniaa  possessions,  and  by  casting  out 
the  devil,  you  can  cure  the  afflicted.  Professors  in  the  healing 
art  are  of  small  account  in  the  philosophy  of  the  healthy^  and 
medicines  are  forbidden  by  the  Prophet,  except  to  the  weak  in 
faith,  who  are  permitted  a  "  meagre,  diet  and  mild  herbs. "  With 
inconsistent  practice,  many  make  use  of  the  doctor  and  his  drugs, 
however,  and  in  reply  to  this,  allege  that  they^have  not  yet  attain- 
ed to  a  full  measure  of  faith,  but  hope  to  improve  till  they  can 
take  up  deadly  things  without  injury;  and  assert  that  when  by 

(140) 


LABOR    HELD   IN    ESTIMATION.  141 

accident  any  Saint  takes  poison,  he  escapes  harmless.  Voluntary 
trials  are  "  temptings  of  the  Lords  "  and  receive  the  proper  pen- 
alty. The  Seer  teaches  the  duty  of  asking  for  the  Elders'  haticls, 
—  yet  be  is  said  to  employ  Gentile  doctors  to  cure  the  "  Ague 
Fiend/'  the  hardest  yet  to  deal  with.  This  puzzles  the  faithful, 
but  they  get  over  it  pretty  well  by  saying,  he  has  infirmities  no 
doubt,,  and  the  devil  is  allowed  to  torment  for  any  dereliction  of 
duty  —  but  as  Seer,  that  does,  not  affect  him  or  his  revelations. 

The  equally  well-attested  mirades  of  Mesmerism  and  Mona- 
chism  are  admitted  to  be  real  —  only  that  they  are  done  by  Beel- 
zebub, who  does  it  to  deceive  and  make  those  recipients  and  dis- 
bursers  of  favor  believe  they  have  divine  power.  At  the  present- 
ation of  relics  or  manipulations,  the  evil  spirit  in  the  person  is 
driven  out  by  a  stronger  one;  and  after  the  wonder  is  over, 
returns  with  a  sevenfold  violence.  Further,  the  Devil,  mistrusting 
that -this  power  was  about  to  be  given  again,  and  angels  sent  to 
minister  to  the  Saints,  tried  to  forestall  .the  effect  and  instructed 
his  imps  in  the  arts 'of  miracle-working.  He  also  gave  visions  to 
Swedenborg  in  order  to  throw  discredit  on  the  Spirit  teachings  of 
Moroni,  and  is  now  destroying  the  Mormon  testimony  in  many 
places  by  what  is  called  spiritual  manifestations. 

LABOR. 

The  dignity  of  labor  is  held  sacred  by  the  Mormons,  and  ex- 
emplified in  their  organization  and  requirements/  A  lazy  person 
is  either  accursed  or  likely  to  be ;  usefulness  is  their  motto ;  and 
those  who  will  not  keep  themselves,  or  try  their  best,  are  left  to 
starve  into  industry.  This  is  inculcated  in  their  creed,  though 
the  prophet  Joseph  was  excused  from  physical  labor  at  Kirtland, 
his  attention  being  sufficiently  occupied  with  the  government. 
Every  one  is  expected  to  work  and  bring  in  his  tithes,  and  the 
president  sets  the  example  in  the  valley,  by  working  at  his  trade 
of  carpenter,  on  his  own  mills  in  the  kanyon.  It  is  a  well-devised 
scheme,  and  the  more  flourishing  the  laborers,  the  greater  is  the 
income  of  the  priests.  This  income  is  expended  on  public  works, 


142  CLERICAL   INDUSTRY. 

the  temple,  the  bridges,  and  public  charity.,  and  support  of  the 
families  of  those  on  missionary  duty. 

The  labor  for  support  of  oneself  and  family  is  taught  to  be  of 
as  divine  a  character,  as  public  worship  and  prayer.  In  practice, 
their  views  unite  them  so  as  to  procure  all  the  benefits  of  social 
Christianity  without  running  into  communism.  The  priest  and  the 
bishop  make  it  their  boast  that,  like  Paul  the  tentmaker,  they 
earn  their  bread  by  the  sweat  .of  the  brow ;  and  teach  by  example 
on  the  week-day,  what  they  preach  on  the  Sabbath,  concerning  the 
virtue  of  industry.  On  the  pulpit  stand  they  dispense  the  word 
of  the  gospel,  and  work  harder  than  when  they  plant,  sow,  or 
reap  in  the  field,  or  team  for  wood  in  the  kanyon,  or  ply  the  spade, 
the  trowel,  or  the  hammer.  This  brings  all  orders  together,  and 
makes  them  acquainted  where  no  art  or  concealment  of  feeling  is 
practised,  and  destroys  that  distinction  of  pastor  and  layman  by 
the  difference  of  dress  and  demeanor,  which  keeps  them  strangers 
to  each  other's  real  sentinients.  And  it  gives  the  priest  the  ad- 
vantage of  knowing  the  turns  of  thought,  the  doubts  on  doctrines, 
and  degree  of  enlightenment  of  those  who  are  to  be  his  auditors, 
and  he  can  adapt  his  discourse  accordingly,  and  make  an  impres- 
sion. VH 

Priests  are  fiiade  without  regard  to  their  learning  or  acquaint- 
ance with  books  —  and  the  object'is  gained  of  suiting  every  capa- 
city; if  a  man  finds  his  intellectual  strength  insufficient  in  one 
place,  he  must  seek  elsewhere  for  his  sphere  of  action.  They  un- 
derstand that  apparent  candor  and  simplicity  in  the  propagandist, 
are  more  likely  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  uncultivated  mass 
than  the  finest  parade  of  ability  and  scholarship.  Many  are  ready 
to  enter  upon  an  argument  with,  or  express  their  opinions  before, 
one  of  their  own  calibre,  but  distrust  the  professional  polemic,  and 
attribute  his  success  in  a  disputation  to  ingenious  sophistry,  and 
remain  unconvinced  when  unable  to  reply.  Hence  the  frequent 
disclaimer  of  Mormons,  of  learning  and  rhetoric,  and  reliance  on 
the  "moving  of  the  spirit" — interior  teachings,  the  commands 
of  God,  and  sense  of  duty,  are  the  alleged  springs  of  their  mission. 
Thus  Forsden,  last  year  in  Sweden,  began  his  preaching  by  laying 


MORMON    PROSELYTING.  143 

hands  on  his  brother  who  was  ill,  and  thus  curing  him,  attracted 
attention  from  the  neighbors.  To  these  he  related  in  his  simple 
manner,  the  story  of  the  Prophet  in  the  West,  and  restoration  of 
miraculous  gifts  to  saints.  Curiosity  was  excited  among  a  few  pea- 
sants, and  the  news  spread  over  the  city;  then  he  harangued  at 
the  street-corners,  which  caused  his  arrest  by  the  magistrate  and  a 
reprimand.  He  repeated  his  preaching,  and  was  again  taken  up  and 
fined  and  ordered  to  cease  his  heretical  work;  but  meekly  replied  that 
he  simply  preached  Christ  crucified,  and  being  commanded  of  God  to 
do  it,  must  obey  him  rather  than  man.  Spectators1  were  moved  by 
his  simple  submission  to  such  views  of  higher  law  at  the  risk  of 
imprisonment  or  of  life.  Punished,  he  glorified  his  Lord  aloud  in 
praise  and  song,  for  being  worthy  to  suffer,  and  was  finally  taken 
forcibly  across  the  channel  to  Denmark,  but  left  several  disciples 
to  spread  his  doctrines. 

Involuntary  labor  by  negroes  is  recognised  by  custom ;  those 
holding  slaves,  keep  them  as  part  of  their  family,  as  they  would 
wives,  without  any -law  on  the  subject.  Negro  caste  springs  natu- 
rally from  their  doctrine  of  blacks  being  ineligible  to  the  priest- 
hood. 

PROSELYTING. 

The  Mormon  missionaries  address  the  cupidity,  as  well  as  .the 
religious  hopes  and  fears  of  those  they  address.  Travelling  from 
city  to  city,  calling  at  the  houses,  and  talking  to  those  on  the 
wayside  familiarly,  .and  working  occasionally  at  some  trade  for 
support,  they  stealthily  introduce  the  subject  at  heart,  and  take 
many  unawares.  It  is  usual  to  use  the  Socratic  method,  and  ask 
if  the  former  church  had  not  gifts,  if  there  were  not  promised 
"signs  following/ '  and  if  any  church  now  shows  them-^-then  they 
follow  up  by  exposition  of  their  doctrines,  and  .claim  at  the  Zion 
of  America,  to.  have  all  the  promises.  If  the  listener  is  not  a  man 
of  wealth,  he  will  be  told  that  the  command  is  to  gather  to  the 
mountains,  where  the  finest  land  is  offered  for  a  few  shillings,  just 
enough  to  pay  for  surveying  and  recording  a  title  to  a  farm.  To 
the  peasantry  of  Europe  this  is  a  powerful,  an  irresistible 


144  EUROPEAN    MORMONS. 

argument.  Accustomed  to  see  the  aristocracy  owners  of  the  soil, 
they  yearn  to  call  a  parcel  of  ground  their  own,  for  it  conveys  a 
feeling  of  translation  from  serfdom  to  princedom ;  and  perhaps 
such  make  the  firmest  patriots  in  this  new  empire.  And  the 
doctrine  of  every  woman  a  husband,  every  Magdalen  pure  when 
baptised,  will  secure,  many  of  the  softer  sex ;  so  that  we  may  not 
be  surprised  at  the  sudden  conversion  of  whole  families,  and  tens 
of  thousands,  as  the  popular  eloquence  falls  on  the  ears  of  those, 
who  emerge  from  factories,  workshops,  and  collieries.  Glad  news 
to  such  is  the  command  to  go  to  the  mountains,  where  they 
become  lords  of  the  soil;  and,  by  a  simple  declaration,  can  be 
aided  thither  from  the  "perpetual  charity  fund/7  which  is  liberally 
supplied  by  the  happy  ones  already  at  the  land  of  promise.  The 
assertion  of  the  president  of  the  stake  in  England  may  well  be 
credited,  who  says  that  thirty-five  thousand  are  enrolled  in  the 
Liverpool  "  stake,"  and  ready  to  come  over,  but  not  one  tenth 
have  the  means  to  reach  the  mountains.  Three  hundred  thousand 
are  the  estimated  Mormons  in  England  and  Wales.  Zealous 
beyond  measure  to  proselyte,  trusting  to  further  instruction  when 
they  return  with  their  converts,,  to  the  teachers,  whose  official 
dignity  carries  a  prestige  of  authority,  the  street  preachers  "cry 
aloud  and  spare  not/'  baptize  by  scores  all  who  express  a  willing- 
ness to  be  called  by  "that  name"  in  which  they  glory.  Many 
come  back  with  lungs  exhausted  and  health  impaired  by  such 
exertions,  and  often  will  they  point  out  to  you  the  passer-by,  and 
say  "that  is  the  holy  man  who  exhausted  his  strength  by  preach- 
ing in  the  open  air  in  London,  this  word  of  the  Latter  Days" — or 
the  hero  of  a  missionary  army  in  some  part  of  the  world. 

THEIR   LAND    TITLES. 

They  issue  a  right  of  occupancy  from  the  State  Register's 
office.  This  is  contingent  on  the  .grant  of  the  general  government, 
of  course,  and  forms  one  of  the  subjects  on  which  they  may  come 
into  collision  with  the  supreme  authority.  They  will  not,  without 
protest,  buy  the  land,  and  hope  that  grants  will  be  made  to  actual 


DIVISION    OF   THE   LAND.  145 

settlers  or  the  State,  sufficient  to  cover  their  improvements.  If 
not,  the  State  will  be  obliged  to  buy,  and  then  confirm  the  titles 
already  given. 

In  the  extensive  territory  of  Utah,  probably  not  one  acre  in  ten 
thousand  is  fit  for  profitable  cultivation,  and  only  the  fertile  strips 
will  recompense  the  surveying.  The  immense  pasturage  around 
cultivable  spots  will  be  fed  in  common,  and  of  course  never 
purchased  by  individuals. 

When  the  Mormons  arrived  in  the  valley,  they  did  not  quarrel 
about  the  fertile,  eligible  plats,  but  put  a  portion  under  cultivation 
jointly,  and  made  equitable  distribution  of  the  proceeds  of  the 
crop,  according  to  wants,  labor,  and  seed  bestowed.  The  city  was 
laid  off  into  lots  and  numbered ;  and  by  mutual  consent  they  were 
assigned  by  the  Presidency,  who  selected  according  to  their  judg- 
ment, placing  those  in  the  vicinity  that  they  wished  for  good  neigh- 
borhood, and  allotting  off  the  balance.  Each  individual  paid  a  small 
sum  to  meet  the  expense  of  surveying  and  recording.  A  section 
on  the  south  of  the  city,  six  miles  square,  called  the  "Big  Field/' 
was  fenced  at  public  cost,  and  divided  up  into  five  acre  lots,  with 
convenient  lanes  between,  and  those  who  would  actually  work 
them,  were  allowed  to  choose,  or  receive  by  lot,  from  one  to  eight 
of  these.  A  Poor  Farm  of  forty  acres  is  in  the  centre,  controlled 
by  the  bishops.  All  lines  of  division  and  boundary  are  run  with 
the  cardinal  points.  The  present  limits  of  farms  will  doubtless  be 
recognised,  though  the  United  States'  surveys  should  make  different 
boundaries :  by  purchase  in  a  tract  by  the  State,  or  from  a  common 
fund,  individuals  will  be  secured  in  their  vested  rights.  When 
the  lands  are  offered  in  the  market,  public  sentiment  will  allow  no 
bidders  against  the  Presidency. 

After  the  assignments  were  made,  persons  commenced  the  usual 
speculations  of  selling  according  to  eligibility  of  situation.  This 
called  out  anathemas  from  the  spiritual  power,  and  no  one  was 
permitted  to  traffic  for  fancy  profit :  if  any  sales  were  to  be  made, 
the  first  cost  and  actual  value  of  improvements  were  all  that  was  to 
be  allowed.  All  speculative  sales  are  made  sub  rosa.  Exchanges 
are  made,  and  the  records  kept  by  the  Eegister.  The  land 
13 


146  WAR   WITH   THE   UTAHS. 

belongs  to  the  Lord,  ami  his  Saints  are  to  use  so  much  as  each 
can  work  profitably. 

We  must  not  forget  that  these  occupants  hold  themselves  the 
Lord's  stewards,  who  are  bound  to  look  after  his  interest,  by 
making  any  unfruitful  portion  of  the  heritage  produce  food  for  his 
saints  —  and,  having  found  a  waste  tract  unoccupied  as  it  should 
be,  (for  the  miserable  Utahs  are  of  no  account  on  this  supposition) 
and  imparted  to  it  by  the  actual  labor  of  their  sinews  all  its 
present  value,  it  is  doubly  theirs,  by  right  divine  and  subjugation. 
And  truly  they  have  a  claim  by  conquest  from  the  roving  Indians. 
They  first  settled  on  the  war-grounds  of  Snake-Diggers  and  Utahs, 
interposing  between  belligerents.  Wars  are  waged  continually 
between  the  bands  or  sub-tribes,  which,  with  disease,  is  fast 
destroying  them.  But  when  the  Mormons  extended  north  and 
south,  they  encroached  on  hunting  and  fishing  grounds,  and  the 
usual  winter  camping  places,  and  scared  off  the  game.  The 
Shoshones  have  consulted  discretion,  and,  though  threatening 
attack,  have  "kept  the  peace."  Not  so  the  Utahs.  In  the 
winter  of  1849  they  became  insolent  in  Utah  Valley,  killed 
cattle  and  boasted  of  itv  entered  houses  and  frightened  women 
and  children,  took  provisions  forcibly,  and  compelled  those  on 
the  farms  to  retire  within  the  fort.  Complaints  of  these  things 
were  sent  to  head-quarters,  and  after  all  peaceable  overtures  were 
disregarded,  the  Utah  war  was  resolved  upon. 

Two*  companies  from  the  City  of  Salt  Lake  joined  the  forces 
in  Utah  valley,  and  proceeded  to  attack  the  quarters  of  the  Indians. 
The  latter  were  well  posted  in  the  dry  channels  of  the  Timpano- 
gos,  and  screened  by  a  cottonwood  forest  and  thick  willow  clumps, 
but  were  finally  driven  out  by  the  cannon  and  rifles  at  long  shots, 
after  three  days'  skirmishing.  The  soldiers  retired  every  night  to 
the  fort,  a  mile  distant  from  the  battle-field.  One  young  man  of. 
the  assailants  was  killed.  The  Indians  decamped  the  third  night 
for  the  mountain  kanyons,  now  filled  with  snow;  and  the  measles 
being  among  them,  the  exposure  killed  many.  "  Old  Elk,"  the 
terror  of  the  mountains,  was  found  dead  on  the  trail.  He  had 
^ng  boasted  that  no  single  person  or  trapper  could  live  with  him 


SUBJUGATION   OF   INDIANS.  147 

in  the  valleys,  and  numbers  are  supposed  to  have  fallen  under  his 
rifle.  A  party  was  driven  up  Table  Mountain,  but  were  induced 
to  come  down  and  surrender.  They  were  guarded  in  camp  until 
the  morning,  and  then  ordered  to  give  up  their  weapons.  They 
refused  to  do  this,  and  acting  in  a  sullen  and  hostile  manner,  were 
fired  upon  and  nearly  all  killed  immediately.  A  few  broke 
through  the  line  of  sentinels  and  endeavored  to  escape  by  cross- 
ing the  lake  on  the  ice,  but  were  chased  down  by  horsemen  and 
"  ceased  to  breathe."  My  informant  was  an  actor  in  the  terrible 
scene,  and  seemed  disposed  to  paint  it  in  as  soft  colors  as  possible. 
A  like  chastisement  was  given  the  year  previous  to  a  small  band 
of  Shoshones,  and  a  second  has  since  been  inflicted  on  the  Utahs, 
and  the  chief,  Patsowits,  caught  and  killed  by  the  bowstring ;  and 
this  thorough  work  makes  such  an  impression  on  them  that  they 
will  fear  to  offend,  which  is  the  humane  policy.  Had  public  sen- 
timent sanctioned  a  similar  policy  with  the  Seminoles,  what 
sacrifices  of  blood  and  treasure  would  have  been  avoided ! 

About  forty  were  killed  by  powder  and  measles ;  and  the  band 
of  old  "  Stick-in-the-head,"  a  chief  of  note,  was  so  thinned  that 
they  immediately  b.egged.for  peace.  A  large  number  of  prisoners 
were  taken,  mostly  women  and  children,  carried  into  Fort 
Utah,  and  lodged  under  the  cannon  platform  in  tents  until  they 
could  be  distributed*  among  the  families  in  the  valley.  They 
were  fed  bounteously  on  beef,  and  it  was  a  sight  for  a  painter  to 
see  this  motley  group  feast  on  the  generosity  of  the  capturers. 
Squaws  and  children  were  generously  taken  into  the  houses,  and 
the  trial  made  to  teach  them  domestic  service.  But  it  was  a  fail- 
ure :  they  soon  deserted  the  comforts  of  the  white  man's  house 
for  the  snowy  home  of  the  kanyons. 

It  is  a  curious  matter  of  reflection,  that  those  whose  mission  it 
is  to  convert  these  aborigines  by  the  sword  of  the  spirit,  should 
thus  be  obliged  to  destroy  them  —  but  they  stoutly  affirm  that 
these  people  will  yet,  under  their  instruction,  fulfil  the  prophecy 
that  "  a  nation  shall  be  born  in  a  day ; "  and  when  they  have  com- 
pleted the  destined  time,  will  listen  to  the  truth  .and  become  (e  a 
fair  and  delightsome  people/' 


148  INDIAN    SUPERSTITIONS. 


THE   UTAHS. 

This  tribe  consists  of  several  bands  under  different  chieftains, 
united  by  a  common  language  and  affinities  as  well  as  by  numerous 
intermarriages.  They  range  over  a  large  region  of  country,  ex- 
tending from  California  to  New  Mexico.  They  are  a  superstitious 
race,  and  have  many  cruel  customs.  Some  tribes  are  reputed  good 
warriors. 

In  the  vicinity  of  the  Salt  Mountain  in  Youab  Yalley  is  a  re- 
markable well  or  circular  pit,  at  the  bottom  of  which  is  a  spring  • 
of  water  which  rises  a  few  feet  and  finds  an  outlet  in  the  loose 
strata.  It  is  called  by  the  Utahs,  Pun-gun.  They  fancy  in  this 
resides  a  child,  that  comes  to  the  surface  at  the  setting  of  the  sun ; 
and  when  one  approaches,  it  cries  and  screams  for  help,  making 
most  frightful  contortions;  but  should  any  attempt  to  aid  the 
child  to  escape,  they  would  be  carried  to  the  lower  regions.  It  is 
the  ghost  cave  of  the  Indians,  and  in  it  is  the  Blue  Beard  of  the 
squaws  which  frightens  into  obedience  unruly  pappooses.  Near 
this  spot  occurred  a  tragedy  which  may  exemplify  their  religious 
notions.  The  witness  of  the  scene  thus  relates  it.  He  was  tra- 
velling the  trail,  and  seeing  a  village  of  the  Utah,  he  turned  toward 
it  for  curiosity  and  trade.  Passing  among  the  lodges,  he  heard  a 
low  wail  within  one  of  the  wigwams.  He  stopped  before  it,  and 
presently  a  lad  of  fourteen  years  apparently,  came  out  sobbing 
bitterly,  and  sat  down,  placing  his  face  in  his  hands  and  resting 
them  upon  his  knees.  Several  Indians  collected  about  the  place, 
and  in  silence  appeared  to  be  waiting  for  some  event  of  import- 
ance. He  heard  a  sound  like  that  of  loading  a  rifle  within 
the  lodge.  An  exclamation  of  satisfaction  escaped  from  a  robust 
brave,  as  he  emerged  from  the  narrow  entrance,  as  though  he  was 
now  sure  of  accomplishing  some  desirable  object  of  long  contem- 
plation. 

The  boy  sprang  up  with  a  piteous  shriek  at  the  sound,  then  as 
if  resigned  to  his  fate,  he  cast  one  lingering  look  at  the  snow-cap t 
hills  —  then  dropping  his  head,  closed  his  eyes  to  the  light  of 
day,  and  was  shot  through  the  heart  by  the  unrelenting  savage. 


USAGES   OF   THE   UTAHS.  149 

On  inquiry,  the  trader  was  told  that  this  boy  was  a  prisoner, 
taken  long  since  frdm  a  neighboring  tribe,  and  that  he  was  sent 
off  to  take  care  of  his  master,  who  had  that  morning  died.  Such 
prisoners  they  keep  to  accompany  the  deceased  to  the  happy 
hunting-grounds  in  the  spirit  world. 

When  they  have  no  captives,  if  a  person  of  note  dies,  and  a 
stranger  is  with  them,  the  rights  of  hospitality  are  disregarded, 
and  the  visitor  must  be  sacrificed  to  the  manes  of  the  departed. 
This  requires  the  trading  bands  to  be  vigilant  and  in  force ;  for 
should  a  runner  come  in  with  the  news  of -any  killed  in  battle 
with  their  enemies,  the  most  friendly  feelings  would  be  instantly 
converted  into  those  of  destruction,  to  satisfy  their  religious 
custom.  When  a  chief  dies,  his  lodge  is  burned,  the  horses  and 
dogs  are  killed,  and  all  his  arms  and  cooking  utensils  are  buried 
with  him.  Burial-places  are  sought  high  up  the  kanyons,  usually 
in  clefts  of  rock;  and  boulders  are  heaped  around,  leaving  a  small 
opening,  into  which  food  is  thrust  for  several  weeks  after  the 
sepulture. 

Chieftainship  descends  from  father  to  son.  A  late  chief,  acting 
on  the  plurality  law,  left  above  thirty  sons,  most  of  whom  have 
small  clans  under  them.  His  true  successor  is  a  fine  brave  Indian, 
with  the  largest  band  immediately  around  him ;  and  he  exercises 
control  over  all  when  he  chooses.  He  is  a  friend  of  the  Mormons. 
A  half-brother  of  his,  named  Walker,  has  become  rich  and 
celebrated  for  his  success  in  stealing  horses  :from  the  Mexicans. 
He  has  a  large  drove  of  cattle,  with  many  followers.  He  lately 
located  near  the  San  Pete  settlement,  and  professed  a  strong 
desire  to  learn  agriculture  from  his  civilized  neighbors,  and 
promised  conformity  on  the  part  of  his  band.  This  is  the  man 
who,  regarded  in  the  mountains  as  a  petty  adventurer,  has  often 
been  so  romantically  eulogised  in  the  States,  and  furnishes  a  theme 
of  praise  among  the  Mormons,  being,  esteemed  a  trophy  to  the 
power  of  their  religion,  a  kind  of  first-fruits  of  their  policy.  But 
-ere  this  he  may  have  resumed  his  robber  habits,  and  frustrated 
the  intention  of  his  Mormon  friends  of  making  him  the  head 
chief  of  the  tribe. 
13* 


150  POST  TO  CONTROL  INDIANS. 

The  different  tribes  of  the  Utahs  are  frequently  at  war  with  each 
other,  and  they  have  an  eternal  national  war  with  the  Shoshones. 
The  Mormon  settlements  partially  interpose  between  the  twc 
great  tribes,  exerting  an  influence  upon  both,  and  ensuring 
them  a  controlling  power  ultimately.  But  the  most  eligible 
position  for  a  commanding  influence  over  the  mountain  tribes,  is 
to  be  chosen  in  the  Green  River  Basin,  either  on  Black's  Fork, 
where  Fort  Bridger  is  built,  for  a  defensive  trading  post,  or  on 
the  Colorado  or  branches.  It  could  control  and  aid  the  emigrant 
travel  to  Oregon  and  California,  as  the  routes  must  fork  in  that 
section.  The  Snakes  or  Shoshones,  estimated  at  several  thousands, 
are  on  the  north.  The  Crows  are  to  the  north-east.  This  band 
numbers  eight  hundred  lodges,  and  is  under  the  most  military 
and  severe  training.  A  principal  chief  governs  despotically.  He 
has  a  council  of  ten,  which  is  convened  every  night  to  relate  the 
occurrences  of  the  day,  and  give  plans  for  the  morrow.  On  the 
march  no  one  is  permitted  to  leave  the  ranks  without  the  signal 
of  the  chief.  When  camp  is  to  be  made,  the  chief,  who  is 
always  two  hundred  yards  in  advance,  halts  and  throws  down  his 
horse-trappings,  and  no  one  is  to  come  nearer- "his  medicine" 
than  a  prescribed  distance,  without  call.  His  lodge  is  set  up  by 
the  squaws,  and  others  then  encircle  it.  Death  is  the  penalty  of 
disobedience.  Sub-parties  are  sent  off  for  plunder,  under  similar 
discipline.  The  Sioux  tribe  is  on  the  east  of  the  basin;  the 
Oglallahs,  or  Cheyennes,  to  the  south-east,  and  the  universal 
Utahs  to  the  south,  all  of  which  need  no  further  description. 

A  fort  and  Indian  agency,  on  this  neutral  or  war-ground  of  all 
these  tribes,  would  communicate  with  each.  All  their  plans 
could  easily  be  discovered..  They  could  be  played  off  against 
each  other,  and  advantage  taken  of  their  animosities.  If  a 
humane  policy  is  the  proper  one,  then  here  is  the  place  for  a 
pacificator,  and  the  interposition  of  good  offices  to  prevent  their 
internecine  contests.  And  no  more  influential  person  could  be 
found  in  an  agency  there,  than  the  enterprising  man  already 
connected  with  them  by  marriage  and  habit,  and  who  now  resides 
as  a  trader  at  Fort  Briefer. 


SKETCHES  BY  AN  OLD  TRArPER.  151 

The  builder  of  Fort  Bridger  is  one  of  the  hardy  race  of 
mountain  trappers  who  are  now  disappearing  from  the  continent, 
being  enclosed  in  the  wave  of  civilization.  These  trappers  have 
made  a  thousand  fortunes  for  eastern  men,  and  by  their  improvi- 
dence have  nothing  for  themselves.  Major  Bridger,  or  "old  Jim,v 
has  been  more  wise  of  late,  and  laid  aside  a  competence;  but  the 
mountain  tastes,  fostered  by  twenty-eight  years  of  exciting  scenes, 
will  probably  keep  him  there  for  life.  He  has  been  very  active, 
and  traversed  the  region  from  the  head-waters  of  the  Missouri  to 
the  Del  Norte —  and  along  the  Gila  to  the  Gulf,  and  thence 
throughout  Oregon  and  the  interior  of  California.  His  graphic 
sketches  are  delightful  romances.  With  a  buffalo-skin  and  piece 
of  charcoal,  he  will  map  out  any  portion  of  this  immense  region, 
and  delineate  mountains,  streams,  and  the  circular  valleys  called 
"  holes/'  with  wonderful  accuracy ;  at  least  we  may  so  speak  of 
that  portion  we  traversed  after  his  descriptions  were  given.  He 
gives  a  picture,  most  romantic  and  enticing,  of  the  head- waters  of 
the  Yellow  Stone.  A  lake  sixty  miles  long,  cold  and  pellucid, 
lies  embosomed  amid  high  precipitous  mountains.  On  the  west 
side  is  a  sloping  plain  several  miles  wide,  witlrclumps  of  trees  and 
groves  of  pine.  The  ground  resounds  to  the  tread  of  horses. 
Geysers  spout  up  seventy  feet  high,  with  a  terrific  hissing  noise,  at 
regular  intervals.  Waterfalls  are  sparkling,  leaping,  and  thunder- 
ing down  the  precipices,  and  collect  in  the  pool  below.  The  river 
issues  from  this  lake,  and  for  fifteen  miles  roars  through  the 
perpendicular  kanyon  at  the  outlet.  In  this  section  are  the 
Great  Springs,  so  hot  that  meat  is  readily  cooked  in  them,  and  as 
they  descend  on  the  successive  terraces^  afford  at  length  delightful 
baths.  On  the  other  side  is  an  acid  spring,  which  gushes  out  in  a 
river  torrent;  and  below  is  a  cave  which  supplies  "vermilion" 
for  the  savages  in  abundance.  Bear,  elk,  deer,  wolf,  and  fox,  are 
among  the  sporting  game,  and  the  feathered  tribe  yields  its  share 
for  variety,  on  the  sportsman's  table  of  rock  or  turf. 

Another  region  he  visited  and  trapped  in,  lies  to  the  west  of  the 
Del  Norte,  and  north  of  the  Gila.  This  he  represents  as  once  the 
abode  of  man,  where  there  are  gigantic  ruins  of  masonry,  which 


152  ROUTE   OF  A  RAIL-ROAD. 

he  describes  with  the  clearness  of  a  Stephens.  Trees  have  grown 
over  these  destroyed  towns,  and  fruits  and  nuts  load  their  branches ; 
and  among  the  animals  are  the  wild  boar  and  grizzly  bear.  His 
own  words  are  :  "  this  fertile  place  is  large  enough  for  three  States, 
and  is  the  most  delightful  spot  that  ever  God  made  for  man/' 
As  a  guide  for  explorers  the  services  of  that  man  would  be  in- 
valuable. 

The  public  attention  has  been  called  in  Missouri  to  the  feasible 
line  of  road  from  Western  Missouri  to  the  Great  Valley  —  and 
where  the  proper  track  for  the  Pacific  Railway  may  be  found  if 
built  from  the  Missouri  river  near  Independence.  This  route 
would  take  the  line  of  the  Kanzas,  up  the  Republican  fork  and 
across  to  the  South  Platte,  and  thence  along  the  Lodge  Pole  Creek 
to  the  south  terminus  of  the  Black  Hills,  where  they  would  be 
turned;  and  then  across  the  rich  Laramie  plains,  leaving  the 
Medicine-Bow  Mountains  on  the  south,  and  crossing  the  North 
Platte  into  the  South  Pass,  over  the  Coal  Basin,  skirting  the  Bear 
River  Mountains  at  the  northern  base,  near  Bridger's  Fort;  and 
through  the  Bear  and  Weber  Kanyons,  which  are  represented 
by  the  mountain  men  as  level  and  practicable,  and  confirmed  by 
distant  views  as  probably  correct,  issue  upon  the  .  Kamas  prairie 
*to  the  Timpanogos,  and  course  down  its  banks  to  the  Yalley  of 
Lake  Utah. 

It  is  not  always  reliable  information  which  we  gain  from  the 
mountain  travellers;  but,  from  the  descriptions  given  me  by  them, 
the  best  route  from  Utah  lies  through  the  passes  to  Seveir  Lake, 
and  south-west  to  the  depression  in  the  Sierra  Nevada  north  of 
Los  Angeles,  where  the  Tulare  valleys  are  enter-ed,  and  from  which 
a  port  is  to  be  selected  on  the  Pacific.  The  Mormon  settlements 
nearer  the  rim  of  the  basin,  may  incline  the  road  more  south,  and 
would  not  much  increase  the  distance.  This  wonderfully  level 
track  across  the  country  strikes  the  mind  with  surprise.  One 
scarcely  is  conscious  of  a  hill  on  the  road,  while  the  immense 
mountains  are  ever  before  and  around  him. 

The  difficulty  this  work  will  encounter  lies  in  the  accumulation 
of  snow  in  the  Weber  and  Timpanagos  kanyons,  during  winter ; 


GRANDEUR   OF   THE   GREAT   RAIL-ROAD.  153 

exploration  and  observation  are  required  to  settle  its  presumed 
practicability,  and  the  amount  of  this  impediment.  Such  a  road, 
within  our  limits,  would  be  the  crowning  work  of  the  century 
and  indeed  of  all  antecedent  time,  so  gigantic  is  it  in  its  con- 
ceptions ;  and  it  would  be  so  wonderful  in  its  results  on  trade  and 
the  destinies  of  the  race,  that  all  other  human  efforts  sink  in  insig- 
nificance before  it.  It  would  strike  the  centre  of  the  great  valley 
of  the  Mississippi,  and  the  commerce  and  the  travel  that  should 
come  from  Asia  would  there  divide,  to  take  its  appropriate  desti- 
nation for  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  or  the  St.  Lawrence;  or  on  the 
many  lines  of  internal  communication  to  the  Atlantic  seaboard. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

SELF-GOVERNMENT. 

IN  concluding  our  notice  of  this  new  territory,  and  of  its  pe- 
culiar people,  we  may  be  allowed  once  more  to  advert  especially 
to  the  subject  of  controlling  the  government  of  Deseret.  We 
hear  that  officers  sent  to-  them  have  had  their  feelings  so  outraged 
by  treasonable  expressions  toward  the  supreme  government,  that 
they  have  felt  it  obligatory  to  return  and  place  the  subject  before 
the  national  legislature  and  the  chief  magistrate.  This  may  have 
resulted  from  too  hasty  conclusions,  and  from  not  marking  the  qual- 
ifications usually  due  to  such  denunciations.  Among  portions  of 
the  citizens  in  every  State,  we  may  hear  very  opprobrious  terms 
used.  The  government  is  frequently  proclaimed  corrupt,  and  dan- 
gerous to  liberty,  in  party  declamation ;  the  writers  and  speakers 
being  ready  to  defend  it,  however,  with  their  life-blood. 

"We  know  that  a  prejudice  existed  against  the  appointment  of 
one,iat  least,  who  went  to  Utah  in  an  official  capacity;  and  the 
Mormons  were  prepared  to  receive, him  with  distrust,  politically 
and  morally;  and  however  unjust  the  prejudice,  it  undoubtedly 
had  its  bad  influence  —  and  in  attacking  pne  with  harsh  language, 
the  cause  may  have  become  common  to  all. 

Now,  the  Mormons  regard  themselves  as  placed  in  the  position 
of  our  colonial  fathers ;  with  this  difference,  that  the  latter  felt  the 
burden  of  taxation  without  representation;  the  Mormons,  an  injus- 
tice in  enforcing  law  upon  them  by  foreigners.  They  have  formed 
every  thing  on  the  model  of  a  republican  State ;  adopted  a  consti- 
tution, liberal,  free,  and  tolerant  of  conscience  in  religion;  and 
have  a  criminal  code  which  applies  to  their  peculiar  situation  and 
feelings.  It,  is  not  to  be  presumed  that  lawyers,  though  eminent 

(154) 


EQUITABLE   RIGHTS   OF   UTAH.  155 

at  home,  fresh  from  crowded  cities,  and  long  drilled  in  municipal 
laws  suited  to  old  societies,  can  have  a  just  appreciation  of  the 
statutes  of  this  wild  country,  which  have  a  peculiar  religious  sanc- 
tion from  the  dependence  of  the  civil  code  on  revelation.  Nor 
will  the  community  place  the  same  confidence  in  such  judges,  as 
in  those  whose  acquaintance  with  their  views  and  opinions  is  a 
matter  of  experience;  and  whose  interests  and  sympathies  are 
bound  up  together.  And,  too,  we  must  remember  that  it  is  a 
matter  of  conscience  to  bring  all  subjects  of  contention  before  the 
heads  of  their  own  family,  the  household  of  the  church. 

So  long,  therefore,  as  they  demean  themselves  as  good  indus- 
trious citizens  of  the  United  States,  being  geographically  separate 
from  other  society,  with  no  admiralty  causes  to  adjudicate,  and 
pay  their  portion  of  the  indirect  taxation  for  the  support  of  the 
government,  they  feel  a  right  to  demand  confidence  enough  to  be 
allowed  to  have  persons  resident  among  themselves  appointed  to 
administer  the  laws  over  them,  and  fill  official  stations.  And  they 
can  well  laugh  at  all  attempts  to  control  them  otherwise,  though 
they  may  submit  in  appearance,  to  prevent  collision. 

And  then  comes  up  the  question,  is  not  this  after  all  a  matter 
of  political  etiquette  ?  and  is  it  wise  to  make  a  case  of  treason  on 
such  a  point  ?  They  acknowledge  the  binding  force  of  the 
Constitution,  claim  to  be  American  citizens,  and  also  to  have  a 
right  that  this  courtesy  be  allowed  them,  after  so  many  privations 
and  sufferings  endured,  to  make  the  wilderness  and  desert  a 
habitable  abode.  -  To  enforce  rulers  over  them  from  abroad,  by  the 
power  of  the  bayonet,  will  entail  perpetual  war,  or  necessitate  the 
raising  a  force,  and  making  an  expenditure  of  funds  such  as  has 
never  been  called  for  at  one  time  since  our  national  existence. 
The  theatre  of  war  would  be  at  a  great  distance,  and  all  supplies 
must  be  transported  a  thousand  miles  on  land  carriage.  And  what 
would  be  gained  in  the  end  ?  Nothing  but  the  same  as  persecu- 
tion has  heretofore  given,  increase  of  Mormon  power.  Indeed 
we  are  not  sure  but  the  leaders  would  like  a  display  of  force,  in 
order  to  raise  the  cry  of  persecution,  and  turn  the  attention  of 
the  people  upon  foreign  objects. 


156  IMPOLICY   OF   ATTEMPTING   COERCION. 

But  we  must  remember  that  this  is  no  insurrection  of  a  part  of 
a  State :  the  population  is  a  unit,  engaged  to  a  man  in  the  sacred 
cause  of  their  freedom  to  govern  themselves.  They  must  be 
convinced  of  error,  before  they  can  abandon  their  position  without 
disgrace.  And  it  will  be  a  difficult  thing  to  bring  one  portion  of 
American  citizens  to  fight  against  another  on  such  an  issue.  The 
Herald  at  once  proclaims  that  liberty  of  conscience  is  infringed. 
They  will  be  considered  as  contending  for  the  right  to  worship 
God  in  their  own  way,  and  to  govern  themselves  as  other  States 
do.  Separated  by  a  three  months'  journey  from  other  organized 
communities,  they  are  harmless  to  them,  and  individuals  must 
seek  molestation,  if  they  have  aught  to  complain  about.  Why 
then,  they  will  ask,  peril  life  and  treasure,  when  the  issue  can  be 
evaded  so  easily,  and  the  benefits  of  their  position  as  a  State 
secured  to  the  country,  by  means  which  it  is  generous  to  adopt, 
and  in  our  power  to  grant  ? 

The  principle  involved  is  the  right  of  sovereignty;  this  is 
already  conceded,  so  far  as  it  can  be,  to  the  general  government, 
and  soon  a  half  million  of  persons  will  demand  the  true  position 
of  a  State,  or  declare  themselves  independent  of  all.  Surely  this 
looks  like  the  case  in  contemplation  of  the  wise  man,  when  he 
advised  so  prudently,  "  leave  off  contention  before  it  is  meddled 
with,"  which  can  be  applied  to  governments,  as  well  as  to 
individuals. 

Smarting  under  a  bitter  recollection  of  violence,  that  people 
could  easily  be  goaded  into  rebellion,  or  rather  into  a  warfare.  A 
small  force  would  be  a  vain  insult  among  them.  Protection  they 
ask  not,  nor  do  they  need  it.  They  are -a  mighty  moral  force 
among  the  threatening  cloud  of  savages  on  our  frontiers.  They 
compel  the  Indian  to  respect  them.  But  they  would  dread  far 
more  than  this  the  contaminating  influence  of  an  idle  soldiery 
among  them,  upon  industry, — yet  more  than  all,  the  gallantry  of 
the  epaulettes  upon  their  peculiar  institution  of  -polygamy.  A 
jealousy  would  be  provoked  that  would  be  "  cruel  as  the  grave." 

The  whole  United  States  army  would  probably  be  insufficient  to 
garrison  and  control  a  hostile  population  on  a  line  of  five  hundred 


DISTURBING    ELEMENTS   IN    UTAH.  157 

miles,  and  enforce  civil  law  by  foreign  judges.  It  could  only 
compel  ina.rtial  law  to  be  acquiesced  in,  if  once  such  a  force  were 
well  quartered  upon  them. 


INTERNAL   DISCORD. 

The  causes  which  are  at  work  to  break  up  the  clanship  and 
oneness  of  the  Mormon  State,  and  reduce  that  people  to  the 
situation  of  others,  with  various  beliefs  and  interests,  are  among 
themselves.  The  bursting  power  is  internal,  and  loosening  the 
outward  bands  will  discover  it.  In  short,  the  true  policy  is 
apparent,  and  may  be  given  in  their  own  peculiar  phrase,  "  let 
them  severely  alone ;"  which  they  apply  to  Gentile  rulers  sent  to 
control  their  movements. 

The  first  disturbing  element  we  notice  is  the  introduction  of 
polygamy;  and  yet  they  give,  or  profess  to  allow,  all  the  freedom 
to  the  females  that  is  found  in  any  Christian  nation.  Their 
education  is  quite  as  free  and  liberal  as  to  the  other  sex,  thus  far. 
But  with  all  this  do  we  find  them  advocating  the  inferiority  of 
woman  in  dignity  of  station.  "  Gentile  gallantry  and  fashion"  is 
declared  to  have  reversed  the  natural  relationship  and  social 
position  of  the  sexes ;  and  that  to  give  the  post  of  honor  or  of 
comfort  to  the  lady,  is  absurd.  If  there  is  but  one  seat,  they  say 
it  of  right  belongs  to  the  gentleman,  and  it  is  the  duty  and  place 
of  a  man  to  lead  the  way,  and  let  the  fair  partner  enter  the  house 
or  room  behind  him.  The  glory  of  a  woman  is  constantly  held 
forth  to  be  a  "mother  in  Israel,"  or,  literally,  a  child-tender. 
The  delicate  sentiment  of  companionable  qualities  and  mental 
attachments  finds  no  place  in  the  philosophy  of  plurality  of  wives, 
separate  from  grosser  sensuous  enjoyments.  While  introducing 
this  great  cause  of  disruption  and  jealousies  into  families,  they 
cultivate  in  schools  the  arts  of  peace  that  tend  to  soften  and  elevate 
a  community;  and  the  antagonistic  principles,  one  of  rolling  back 
to  Asiatic  stationary  civilization,  the  other  of  progressive  enlight- 
enment, must  come  into  collision.  What  then  is  the  effect  of 
their  law  of  plurality  ?  The  sacred  bond  between  two  persons,  by 
14 


158  ADVANTAGES   OP   REGULAR   MARRIAGE. 

which  the  twain  are  one,  as  declared  in  Holy  Writ,  is  desecrated. 
In  that  union  of  the  wills,  the  affections,  and  interests,  lies  the 
hope  of  improvement  of  the  condition  of  society;  and  by  the 
laws  of  nature  and  of  grace,  there  the  peace  of  the  world  and 
realization  of  the  Christian's  hopes  are  centred.  The  law  estab- 
lishing the  family  circle  was  the  first  promulgated  in  social 
relations.  And  again  the  sacred  historian  takes  up  the  theme, 
and  relates  the  full-souled  offering  of  his  heart  by  Adam,  and 
acknowledgment  of  equality  and  sameness ;  and  then  he  declares 
that  for  this  cause  a  man  shall  forsake  all  other  ties,  to  obey  the 
sacred  promptings  of  a  guileless  nature,  in  conjugal  fidelity  to  one 
wife  —  which  became  the  law  of  grace,  and  four  thousand  years 
after  was  once  more  affirmed  as  the  holy  rule  of  the  sexes,  by  the 
Lord  of  all. 

Nor  is  this  a  subject  ever  to  be  lightly  touched,  for  he  is  a 
traitor  to  his  country,  to  humanity,  and  to  himself;  who  can  point 
the  finger  of  scorn,  or  lessen  in  the  minds  of  any,  the  sacredness 
of  the  dual  marriage ;  and,  as  all  are  scholars,  from  the  cradle  to 
the  grave,  as  well  as  teachers  in  the  social  world,  let  every  rightly 
balanced  mind  exert  itself  to  learn,  and  to  picture  the  delights  and 
the  sorrows  of  home,  on  the  truthful  basis  of  their  heaven-born 
origin.  When  the  lofty  genius  of  the  poet  rises  highest  in  scenes 
that  enrapture  and  gladden  less  gifted  minds,  what  inspires  but 
this  spirit  of  love — when  the  statesman  is  tossing  restlessly  on  the 
waves  of  ambition,  or  the  warrior  rides  fearless  on  the  heights  of 
a  thousand  dangers,  their  souls  are  nerved  to  their  tasks  by  the 
rewards  of  love's  admiration ;  and  the  peace  of  the  Christian 
nestles  in  the  heart,  and  bids  each  pure  soul  cherish,  in  calm 
sublimity,  the  love  of  its  nearest  and  dearest  neighbor ;  and  all 
turn  for  beauty  of  expression  and  truthful  illustration  of  the  social 
good,  to  the  appropriate  comparison  of  "the  love  of  woman." 
Let  nothing  then  come  between  the  object  of  regard  and  the  whole 
affections  —  but  rather  call  in  aid  every  thing  that  can  strengthen 
the  union  of  souls,  and  bring  it  to  perfection. 

To  offer  the  person  for  a  companion,  and  withhold  the  affections, 
would  be  like  the  Siamese  twins  Jn  the  death  of  Chang,  while 


FEELINGS   OF    THE   YOUNG    MORMONS.  159 

Eng  should  live,  a  body  attached  to,  but  not  of  him — it  would  be 
the  embrace  of  a  corpse,  galvanized  into  some  of  the  motions  of 
life  j  but  the  warmth,  the  virtue  of  the  vital  principle,  departed 
for  ever.  And  this  must  soon  become  the  social  fate  of  our 
mountain  brethren,  unless  a  change  comes  over  the  spirit  of  their 
revelations,  and  they  return  to  the  primitive  law  of  the  marriage 
relation. 

EFFECT   OF   PLURALITY   ON   THE   YOUNG. 

A  second  consideration,  arising  from  the  same  cause,  is  in  the 
relation  of  parents  and  children.  Separated  now  from  those  who 
can  persecute  them,  it  is  hard  to  keep  up  the  enthusiasm  of  the 
mass,  by  reference  to  the  persecutions  heretofore  endured.  But 
to  the  young,  the  children  of  the  mountains,  these  are  "  oft-told 
tales,"  jejune  and  tiresome.  The  youth  there  are  no  fanatics, 
and  seem  to  care  but  little  for  the  detail  of  doctrines. 

And  the  contemplation  of  plurality  is  highly  distasteful  to  the 
young  ladies  of  any  independence  of  feeling,  however  acquiesced 
in  by  the  more  advanced  in  age.  The  subject  was  placed  before 
one  in  its  practical  light,  and  the  reply  was  most  decided  and 
prompt  against  such  an  arrangement.  Asked  if  she  could  consent 
to  become  Mrs.  Blank,  No.  20,  or  No.  40  —  or  if  now  in  youth- 
ful life  she  was  espoused  to  one  of  her  choice,  and  who  was  all  the 
world  to  her }  and  then,  though  ranking  No.  1,  when  the  first 
blush  of  beauty  had  departed,  she  could  be  contented  to  have  the 
husband  call  at  her  domicil  after  several  weeks'  absence  and  say, 
"  I  am  really  glad  to  see  you  dearest,  and  how  delighted  it  would 
make  me  to  spend  an  hour  here,  but — and,  by  the  way,  have  you 
seen  my  last  bride  No.  17;  how  sweet  a  girl  she  is — really  I'm 
sorry  to  leave  you  so  soon/' —  the  subject  was  cut  short .  by  the 
reply,  stern  and  true,  <e  No  Sir,  I  'd  die  first."  We  are  informed 
that  many  on  the  frontiers  have  deserted  the  "sealed  relation" 
and  married  half-breeds  and  Potawatamies,  preferring  such  a 
life  as  that  in  the  cabins  of  Nebraska  to  the  ennui  of  the  other. 

Young  men,  too,  feel  insecure  in  proposing  to  embark  in  the 
matrimonial  vessel.  They  must  naturally  feel  envious,  when  the 


160  THE    FAMILY    RELATION. 

young  women  treat  them  with  disdain  by  yielding  to  the  advice  of 
ambitious  mothers,  and  attach  their  fortunes  to  the  hem  of  a  pres- 
ident or  apostle,  in  order  to  obtain  a  celestial  queenship  among  the 
dignitaries  of  the  world  to  come. 

Of  all  the  children  that  have  come  under  our  observation,  we 
must,  in  candor,  say,  that  those  of  the  Mormons  are  the  most  law- 
less and  profane.  Circumstances  connected  with  travel,  with  occu- 
pations in  a  new  home,  and  desultory  life,  may  in  part  account  for 
this :  but  when  a  people  make  pretensions  to  raising  up  a  '"  holy 
generation"  and  are  commanded  to  take  wives  for  the  purpose, 
we  naturally  look  at  the  quality  of  the  fruit  produced  by  the  doc- 
trines;— and  surely  they  would  not  complain  of  the  Scripture  rule, 
"by  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them." 

Additions  from  abroad,  and  conversion  of  adults,  can  never  sus- 
tain such  a  society,  if  the  youth  and  children  do  not  imbibe  the 
principles  that  form  the  community  and  give  it  life  and  vigor  —  it 
is  the  young  who  are  to  transmit  and  inculcate  them,  or  else,  being 
at  variance  with  their  feelings  and  enlightened  reason,  the  charac- 
ter of  that  society  must  soon  change.  For  what  constitutes  society  ? 
It  has  been  said,  men  make  the  state  —  this  is  true  when  the  idea 
comprehends  the  humanity  of  man,  wife,  and  children.  No  en- 
during blessing  was  ever  promised  to  a  people,  without  -their  chil- 
dren being  expressly  mentioned  as  participants;  and  heavenly 
pictures  of  a  flourishing  commonwealth  are  united  with  the  merry 
gambolings  and  cheerful,  sounds  of  the  young  playing  in  the 
streets  of  busy  cities.  Break  up  the  harmony  of  thought  and 
purpose  between  the  parent  and  child ;  make  a  man's  enemies  of 
his  own  household  every  where,  and  what  becomes  of  society  ? 
It  is  at  the  home,  at  the  fireside,  at  the  family  altar,  that  the  prin- 
ciples and  dispositions  are  obtained  that  govern  individuals ;  and 
as  the  prevailing  tone  of  the  families,  so  will  -  be  the  neighbor- 
hood, the  towns,  the  legislatures ;  so  too  will  be  the  union  princi- 
ple that  constitutes  a  peaceful,  prosperous  state. 

The  first  form  of  government,  arising  out  of  man's  necessities 
and  wants,  is  seen  in  the  family,  and  is  the  Patriarchal;  its  in- 
ception is  intuitive. 


THE    MORMON    SYSTEM.  161 

Now,  we  find  the  Mormons  start  in  theory,  right  on  the  princi- 
ple of  Government,  as  on  that  of  Labor.  In  true  theory,  govern- 
ment rests  on  the  Divine  Will,  and  human  minds  must  interpret 
that  will,  either  by  direct  revelation,  or  by  Reason,  enlightened  by 
experience.  Expediency,  or  what  promotes  human  happiness,  is 
the  rule,  but  never  to  infringe  on  Revelation.  In  other  words, 
Justice  between  individuals  and  nations  is  the  object  of  law  — 
leaving  each  person  all  possible  freedom  to  choose  his  occupation. 
Security  of  Rights  is  the  true  political  enonomy;  the  natural  de- 
sire of  good  stimulates  man  to  work  out  wealth  and  prosperity. 

Try,  then,  this  people  by  their  own  rule.  We  find  them  claim- 
ing to  act  by  Divine  Will  and  in  the  Patriarchal  form.  Look  at 
its  development!  The  divine  will  is  changed  at  once  into  a 
scheme  of  Human  Will  —  and  the  latter  is  made  the  Lawgiver — 
the  Judge  —  the  Executor.  If  the  Seer  is  the  Voice  of  God,  all 
is  well  —  right.  The  world  denies  this  however.  And  then  it 
falls  into  an  autocracy,  despotism. 

So  long  as  the  governed  people  choose  to  obey  one  man  in  all 
things,  they  are  not  slaves  —  they  may  be  secure  in  "  life,  liberty, 
and  the  pursuit  of  happiness,"  in  their, own  estimation.  Practi- 
cally thus  far  the  Mormons  are  so ;  and  as  education  is  spreading 
right  thoughts  and  will  continue  to  do  so,  if  let  alone,  among  the 
masses  of  Yankees  and  Chartists,  they  will  learn  how  and  when 
to  throw  off  the  usurpations  of  a  pretended  Theocracy. 

In  the  family,  the  fostering  restraint  of  authority  is  necessary 
till  a  certain  age,  and  then  the  young  bird,  full  fledged,  flies  off  in 
joyous  freedom,  to  assume  its  natural  responsibility.  So  of  Col- 
onies —  and  this  one,  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  now  asks  the 
privileges  of  manhood  from  the  parent  States  — -  that  granted,  and 
the  vagaries  of  its  youth  on  the  science  of  government  will  be  dis- 
carded in  the  schooling  of  experience. 


THE   BIBLE. 

But  the  proselyting  from  other  Christian  sects  will   be  sadly 
interfered  with,  and  checked,  when  the  Bible  shall  be  published 


BANCROFT 
LIBRARY 


162  ADDITIONS   FROM   WITHOUT. 

as  altered  by  Joseph  the  Seer.  To  be  sure,  each  sect  that  gives 
an  interpretation  of  the  scriptures  different  from  the  apostolic 
sense,  has  a  new  Bible;  but  they  all  keep  the  same  words,  and 
individual  judgment  is  the  standard  that  causes  diversity,  which  is 
ever  changing;  and  thus  there  is  left  open  the  opportunity  for  a 
catholic,  that  is,  universal  opinion.  But  the  Bible,  printed  with 
the  emendations  which  we  before  referred  to,  will  no  more  be  the 
Christian's  book  of  the  present  churches,  than  the  Alcoran  of 
Mahomet,  or  the  Zendivesta.  Then  there  will  be  something 
tangible,  showing  the  tendency  of  the  doctrines,  and  a  direct  blow 
be  aimed  at  the  "faith  once  delivered  to  the  Saints;"  it  will  no 
longer  be,  in  the  minds  of  any,  a  transition  and  progression  from 
one  view  to  another,  but  necessitate  an  apostacy  from  one  religion 
to  a  different  creed,  and  to  the  worship  of  a  different  God. 

These  adult  additions  for  bettering  temporal  condition,  do  not 
add  to  the  strength  of  the  theo-democratic  principle  of  their 
government.  This  will  merely  give  power  to  the  selfish  element, 
to  what  they  already  complain  is  so  common,  and  numerously 
represented  by  the  "Mormonish;"  while,  to  carry  out  the 
proposed  plan,  there  is  required  ihe  most  complete  disinterested- 
ness; all  that  sinking  of  self  in  the  prosperity  of  the  order,  so 
conspicuous  in  the  devoted,  holy  brotherhood  of  the  Jesuits. 
Whole  families  emigrate  from  abroad  on  account  of  the  desire  of  a 
son,  a  daughter,  or  one  parent,  who  are  converts  —  the  faith  of 
one  or  two,  perhaps,  making  the  occasion,  not  the  motive,  for  the 
other  members  joining  the  society. 

A  fourth  disturbing  cause  lies  in  the  system  of  tithes.  By 
this  engine,  immense  sums  are  accumulated,  and  put  at  the  disposal 
of  the  Presidency,  and  its  corrupting  influences  of  irresponsible 
expenditure  will  sooner  or  later  be  developed.  It  cannot  be  k>ng 
before  those  restless,  ambitious,  and  talented  persons,  who  are 
denied  the  great  privileges  which  untold  treasures  secure,  will 
become  dissatisfied  at  the  sight  of  ease  and  luxury  in  the  managers 
of  what  they  may  consider  a  religious  speculation;  and  some  may 
envy  the  harems  of  the  shepherds  of  the  flock,  supported 
indirectly  by  the  labors  of  the  hirelings.  The  toiling  laborer  in 


RIGHT   OF   SELF-GOVERNMENT.  163 

the  dusty  field  may  raise  the  question  of  unequal  burdens,  as 
the  princely  carriage  rolls  past  with  the  music-band  in  the  train, 
which  even  now  makes  melody  in  the  visiting  processions  and 
pleasure-rides  in  the  mountains.  The  means  for  amusing  the 
mind  of  the  multitude,  and  distracting  attention  from  its  own 
increasing  power,  are  daily  becoming  less;  while  on  the  other 
hand,  the  burdens  grow  more  and  more  onerous,  and  are  less 
voluntarily  borne.  The  pressure  for  tithes  from  all  parts  is  again 
vehemently  made,  and  reminds  of  the  times  of  Joseph,  when 
engaged  on  the  Nauvoo  temple. 

Nor  is  the  harmony  and  union  of  the  Presidency  so  strong  that 
it  could  not  be  broken.  "What  could  happen  to  the  first  three, 
with  the  prophet  at  the  head,  can  easily  occur  again.  It  requires 
no  great  shrewdness  to  perceive  the  growing  affection  manifested 
for  different  persons  in  that  board  of  directors,  and  parties  will 
carry  the  object  of  admiration  with  them.  No  open  organizations 
are  yet  made  in  favor  of  the  second  in  rank,  who  is  reported  to  be 
the  best  business  man  in  the  valley,  but  it  would  require  but  little 
tyranny,  and  novelty  of  doctrine,  preached  by  the  Seer,  to  cause 
the  cry  of  apostacy  and  ambition.  Like  Lucifer  and  Rigdon,  he 
would  be  declared,  by  a  numerous  host,  to  have  forfeited  the  high 
estate,  and  a  vote  of  the  chiefs  of  stakes,  or  expressed  will  of  the 
majority  of  the  people,  would  depose  him.  At  present  he  is  wary 
of  giving  revelations,  rather  hinting  that  something  is  soon  to 
appear,  of  wonderful  importance.  He  assures  that  Joseph  the 
Seer  has  left  more  work  carved  out,  than  five  years  of  faithful 
diligence  will  accomplish  —  and  when  they  have  fulfilled  all  the 
duties  entailed,  then  they  may  ask  for  more  light  from  the  angels. 

All  these  seeds  of  distrust,  ambition,  and  discontent,  are  sown 
in  a  fruitful  soil ;  and  if  they  are  left  quietly  to  germinate  by  the 
powers  at  a  distance,  cannot  fail  to  destroy  that  unity  which 
renders  the  Mormon  community  so  formidable  to  any  that  might 
seek  to  control  it.  That  people  may  well  be  compared  to  the 
Puritans  of  New  England,  in  its  early  settlement  —  they  are  as 
exclusive,  as  energetic,  as  enduring;  have  sustained  persecutions 
more  fiery  —  have  toiled  for  rocks  and  snowy  lands  —  contended 


164  DUTY    OF   THE   GOVERNMENT. 

with  the  red  men,  and  subdued  a  desert  for  a  residence.  May  no 
General  Gage  be  directed  to  dragoon  them  into  rebellion.  On 
one  area  the  theo-democratic  government  has  yielded  peaceful 
fruits,  and  been  forgotten  —  on  the  other,  like  results,  we  hope, 
are  to  follow. 

There  appears  to  be  a  crisis  in  the  relations  of  the  Mormons  to 
the  government  of  the  Union,  and  sober  counsels  are  demanded, 
to  prepare  the  way  for  a  peaceable,  honorable  future.  No  reference 
to  State  pride,  no  thought  of  religious  aberrations,  can  be  safely 
consulted  in  the  case  :  nothing  counselled  but  generosity  on  the 
side  of  power,  towards  those  who  have  achieved  so  much  in 
fertilizing  a  barren  region,  and  made  atwo  spires  of  grass  to  grow 
where  only  one  grew  before " — nothing  but  indulgent  charity 
should  be  exhibited  to  men  who  declare  themselves  ready  to  enter 
upon  an  honest  warfare  of  reason,  enlightened  by  revelation,  to 
maintain,  if  found  good,  or  abandon,  if  demonstrated  erroneous, 
long  cherished  opinions  —  and  forbearance  may  honorably  be 
exercised,  while  they  continue  to  carry  out  practically  the  princi- 
ples of  republican  liberty  and  human  freedom,  in  accordance  with 
American  genius,  though  the  method  be  theoretically  absurd; 
having  good  assurance  that  there  are  improving  elements  within, 
that  will  "leaven  the  whole  lump."  Such  conservative  views 
will  produce  harmonious  action,  and  the  STATE  OF  DESERET 
become  a  sound  connecting  link  in  the  great  empire  chain,  whose 
termini  are  riveted  in  the  everlasting  foundations  of  the  turbulent 
Atlantic  and  calm  Pacific ;  those  station  points,  at  which  the 
ascending  sun  salutes,  and,  descending,  bids  a  short  farewell  each 
day,  lightly  kissing  the  snow-capt  brow  of  the  lofty  mountain 
peak,  that  looks  so  serenely  down  upon  the  vales,  filled  with  the 
happy  homes  of  peaceful  industry. 

CONCLUSION. 

Let  us  not  then  be  the  advocates  of  Mormonism,  and  opposers 
of  our  own  form  of  Christianity,  by  counselling  persecution  and 
foreign  control.  This  system  is  not  what  it  was  in  its  first  decade. 


THE   TEST   OF    MORMONISM.  165 

Once  it  was  aggressive,  now  it  is  on  the  defensive  —  then  it  was 
violent,  now  it  is  politic.  The  thousand  mile  wall  of  space  unin- 
habited, hems  it  in  and  renders  it  harmless.  The  industry  of  its 
supporters  makes  it  useful  to  the  country.  They  are  more  than 
an  army  against  the  Indians  on  the  West.  The  weary  traveller 
to  the  land  of  Ophir  shares  in  their  hospitality. 

Mornionism  could  not  exist  as  a  concrete  system  among  other 
sects.  It  must  rule  or  it  must  die.  A  fair  field  to  test  its  virtues 
and  its  faults  is  before  us.  Its  votaries  are  now  to  ascertain  its 
claims  to  truth  by  prophecy.  If,  in  a  few  short  years,  they  see  the 
great  city  of  New  York,  its  people,  its  temples,  and  its  wealth,  go 
down  into  the  opening  earth,  and  the  sea  sing  a  requiem  over  the 
grave — if  they  see  the  Protestant  world  become  only  known  in  the 
records  of  the  past— if  a  guard  of  angels  in  glittering  armor  descend 
and  guide  them  back  in  military  array  across  the  desert  plains — if 
they  hear  the  groans  of  the  Asiatic  nations,  dying  in  frantic  bat- 
tle, in  myriads,  on  the  plains  of  Palestine ;  then  may  they  know 
that  the  testimony  of  Joseph  was  of  "  the  spirit  of  prophecy." 

This  new  creed  arose  out  of  the  strife  of  conflicting  human 
opinions,  and  is  one  of  the  great  exponents  of  the  age,  in  which 
individual  mind  is  struggling  to  throw  off  the  fetters  of  supersti- 
tion —  and  in  the  rebound  to  unbridled  private  judgment  here  is 
added  one  more  instance  of  exalted  genius  enlisted  on  the  side  of 
priestly  tyranny,  and  sacrificed  on  the  altar  of  ambition  —  carrying 
hecatombs  to  an  "  auto  da  fe."  Its  founder  will  survive  in  history. 
He  is  embalmed  in  the  affectionate  memory  of  thousands ;  and 
as  time  lends  a  halo  of  enchantment  to  encircle  his  name,  hymns 
of  praise  and  legends  of  his  holy  deeds  will  be  sung,  and  cherished 
by  those  who  believe  that  the  prophet  saint  of  earth  is  to  reign  a 
Grod  over  a  brilliant  world  of  his  own  creation,  surrounded  by 
happy  queens  and  carolling  children,  through  his  own  blessed  eter- 
nity. When  the  u  knowledge  of  the  Lord  covers  the  earth  as  the 
waters  cover  the  sea,"  then  will  this  new  church,  the  handy-work 
of  man,  fade  away  and  be  forgotten.  For  its  virtuous  industry  we 
praise,  for  its  brotherly  unity  we  admire  —  and  for  its  induction 
into  the  one  Catholic  Church  we  offer  our  sincere  prayers. 


ADDENDA, 


MORMON   CHRONOLOGY. 

1823. 

Joseph  Smith  announces  a  visit  from  the  angel  Moroni,  at  Palmyra, 
New  York. 

1827. 

Golden  plates,  eight  inches  by  four,  connected  by  rings  and  engraved 
with  Egyptian  letters,  given  to  Joseph  by  the  angel  for  translation. 

1830. 

Book  of  Mormon  published  —  Church  organized  and  settled  at  Kirt- 
land,  Ohio. 

1831-2. 

New  Jerusalem  selected  in  Jackson  County,  Missouri  —  and  named 
Zion  —  Corner  stone  of  a  Temple  laid. 

1833-5. 

A  mob  at  Zion  drive  the  Mormons  to  Clay  County  —  Kirtland  named 
Shinahar,  and  store-houses,  temple,  and  tithes  arranged  —  Mercantile 
house  formed. 

1836-7. 

Mormons  driven  from  Clay  to  Caldwell,  Missouri — Found  Far  West- 
Bank  of  Kirtland  established. 

1838-9. 

Bank  fails  —  Danite  Society  organized  —  Third  persecution  in  Mis- 
souri, and  the  Mormons  driven  to  Illinois. 

1840-1. 

Nauvoo  City  laid  off  on  the  Mississippi — State  of  Illinois  grant  extra- 
ordinary privileges  —  Hostile  feelings  from  citizens  and  dissenters  ap- 
pear. 

1842-3. 

Temple  begun  at  Nauvoo  —  Charge  of  "  Spiritual  wives"  denied  — 
Polygamy  granted  —  Troubles  with  civil  courts. 

(167) 


168  ADDENDA. 

1844-5. 

Joseph  the  prophet  and  his  brother  Hyrum,  repair  to  Carthage  on 
charge  of  treason  —  Are  shot  in  jail  by  an  infuriated  mob  —  Brigham 
Youn'g  chosen  Seer  —  Violence  offered  to  Nauvoo  people  —  Burnings  at 
Green  Plains. 

1846. 

Property  sacrificed  at  Nauvoo  —  Mormons  emigrate  to  the  Missouri 
Bottom  —  Cultivate  land  twenty  miles  above  Platte  junction  —  Battalion 
of  520  men  recruited  for  the  Mexican  War  —  Women  do  field-work  — 
Great  sickness  in  camp  —  Caves  dug  for  winter  shelter. 

1847. 

Great  mortality  and  suffering  —  Indians  molest  the  Mormons  —  8th 
April :  Seer  and  advance  guard  of  143  men  depart  for  the  mountains-'- 
Seeds  and  implements  transported  —  21st  July  :  Advance  at  Salt  Lake 
Valley,  and  24th  Presidency  arrive  —  Ground  consecrated  for  a  city  — 
Invalid  company  of  the  Mexican  battalion  arrive,  and  4000  persons 
come  in  October. 

1848. 

January :  Fort  completed,  of  7788  feet  contour  —  Thirteen  miles  of 
fence,  enclosing  6000  acres,  made — June :  Crickets  cut  down  the  plants, 
which  are  renewed  four  times' in  some  cases  —  People  starving,  dig 
roots  and  eat  old  hides  —  Five  mills  put  in  operation  —  Seer  returns 
with  emigrants  —  Settlements  extended  —  Temple  at  Nauvoo  burnt. 

1849. 

Utah  Valley  occupied  —  Large  crops  raised  —  Constitution  for  a  ter- 
ritorial government  made  —  Withdrawn,  and  one  for  a  State  sent  to 
Congress  —  Survey  of  the  valley  by  Captain  Stansbury  and  Mr.  Gunni- 
son,  made  by  order  of  United  States  —  Tuilla  and  San  Pete  valleys 
colonized  —  Missionaries  sent  to  France,  Denmark,  Sweden,  and  Europe 
generally. 

1850. 

University  of  Desere't  incorporated  —  Schools  opened  —  Cities  laid 
off  in  Ogden,  San  Pete,  and  Timpanagos  districts  ;  and  little  Salt  Lake 
Valley  colonized  —  Iron  mines  worked  —  State-house  finished  —  Gover- 
nor dissolves  the  State  provisional  government,  and  the  Territory  of 
Utah  recognised  —  Brigham  Young  appointed  governor  by  the  Presi- 
dent —  Tithing  store-houses  built,  and  adobes  made  for  private  dwell- 
ings —  General  prosperity. 

1851. 

Census  taken  —  United  States  judges  arrive  —  Become  dissatisfied, 
and  withdraw  —  Legislature  protests  —  Sixteen  mills  in  operation  — 
Polygamy  openly  discussed  —  Latter-Day  Saints  ordered  to  remove 
from  the  frontier  to  Utah  the  coming  year. 


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3.  <0mrnl  Itjnnjisis  nf  JJnrtlj  3mmnra  (Dnrittjnliigtf, 

By  John  Cassin, 

Member  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia;  of  the  American  Philo- 
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PERSONAL  NARRATIVE  OF  SCENES  AND  ADVENTURES 

IS  THE 

Semi-Alpine  Region  of  the  Ozark  mountains 

OF  MISSOURI  AND  ARKANSAS, 

WHICH  WERE  FIRST  TPvAVERSED  BY  DE  SOTO  IN  1541. 
BY  HENRY  ROWE  SCHOOLCRAFT. 

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life  ntrtt  atattitnrts  nf  n  (tnuntq  3#mjjnnt. 

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ILLUSTRATED. 
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42 


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"  Tis  to  create,  and  in  creating  live 
A  being  more  intense,  that  we  endow 
With  form  or  fancy,  gaining  as  we  give 
The  life  we  image,  even  as  I  do  now." 

bketcnes  of  a  romantic  character,  displaying  a  warm  imagination  and  an  ornate  style.^Philada. 
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